cars news 10: Honda Applies for ZSX Trademark

It’s no secret Honda has been considering a Type R version of its NSX supercar. Now, Honda may be readying another sporty model for the Acura stable.

Honda submitted a trademark application for “ZSX” to the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The application, filed July 26, moves to secure the “ZSX” name for motorcycles, vehicles, or other moving apparatuses.

Of course, it’s anyone’s guess what Honda is planning to do with the “ZSX” name, if anything at all. It could be planning to use the moniker for the long-rumored “baby NSX,” which would be a more affordable version of the supercar. Patent drawings of a an unknown mid-engine Honda sports car have surfaced in the past. If released, it would slot below the Acura NSX but above the S1000, the high-performance version of the Japanese-market S660 mid-engine compact. Rumors from last summer say it could use a turbo 2.0-liter inline-four mated to a hybrid SH-AWD system. But other rumors later in October said Honda had changed its mind and decided to use a downsized 1.5-liter mill.

According to Performance Drive, citing a report from Automoto, an unnamed Honda engineer said the automaker was planning to debut a ZSX as early as next year. The unconfirmed employee also said the ZSX would use a version of the Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbo-four in addition to electric motors on the front and rear axle.

There’s also been word of a convertible-roofed version of the NSX, although we’d imagine that model wouldn’t take a new name. It’s also possible the “ZSX” name could be used on a future motorcycle from Honda.

What would you like to see from a future Honda ZSX? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Performance Drive, European Union Intellectual Property Office