Honda trademarks ZSX, could be for baby NSX

While there have been many
rumors dating back to 2008 about a mid-engined
sports car from
Honda,
last year’s report was provided the most detail about what seemed to be a scaled-down version of the
NSX hybrid
supercar. Honda may have added some fuel to the rumor-fire by recently filing a
trademark application for «ZSX,» reports
Australia’s
Performance Drive.

The trademark application was sent to the European Union Intellectual Property Office late last month and is obviously close to the NSX nomenclature. The Australian outlet also reports that an unnamed source within Honda claims the ZSX, whatever it may be, could be revealed as early as next year.

The anonymous employee also claims that the ZSX will be offered as a coupe and a hard-top convertible variant, with both being powered by the automaker’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the
Honda Civic Type R. Just like the NSX, the ZSX is rumored to get electric motors on the front and rear axles.

Previous reports match the unnamed source’s claims, as the ZSX was expected to be a replacement for the
Honda S2000 that ended production in 2009. It now sounds like it’ll be more of a mini-NSX, with rumors pointing towards one electric motor powering the rear wheels, while two motors would be on the front axle.
Patents from last year, which are pictured above, match the rumors of a mid-engined sports car.

The ZSX trademark is for Europe only as of right now, while the automaker’s previous patents and trademarks included the US, as well. Only time will tell if «ZSX» really stands for a sports car, or if Honda actually goes through with its plans. Remember,
Nissan
ditched similar plans for a small rear-wheel-drive sports car recently.

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