For a while now, Honda has been deliberating as to how it plans to restructure itself and its luxury marque, Acura, over the next few years. We already spread the word that a future NSX replacement was canned in the works, but now it seems that more casualties have come up across the two brands.

Honda will not be planning a successor to the S2000 roadster, nor will there be a drop-top version of the upcoming CR-Z coupe. Additionally, all plans for Acura's rumored V-8 engine have been shelved, as well as any future entries into the rear-wheel-drive segment. Honda was planning to potentially build these new RWD cars to compete with vehicles like BMW's 3- and 5-Series. The first of these examples was expected to roll out in 2015 as a 7-Series competitor. AutoCar also reports that the Honda Accord could move to one global model, as opposed to the two different versions which are sold around the world.

As we drive into the future, Honda will concentrate its efforts on building more hybrids and a new small city car. The automaker projects to build more than 500,000 hybrids by 2012, including the all-new Insight which will debut in Detroit next week.

+ AutoCar: Honda axes sports and luxury models (via AutoblogGreen)

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Now here's some sad news -- Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has reportedly announced that all development of the next NSX supercar has been cancelled. According to Autocar, Fukui also said that Honda will be shifting its main focus to hybrid powertrains, because hybrids offer "the most realistic path for CO2 reduction at this moment."

Interestingly, Fukui had told Autocar that "the new supercar is necessary for Honda" just one year ago, so it comes as a shock that the whole development process has suddenly been nixed. However, this is not to say that the NSX will not make a triumphant return much later down the road. (Here's hoping!)

+ Autocar: Honda NSX cancelled

Acura's American diesel program is deader than John McCain's presidential ambitions--so says Autoblog Green.  Just prior to their Prop 8 protest walkout, the Green gang was informed by Sage Marie of Honda's US arm that the Acura diesel plan was being put on indefinate hold.  Marie remarked that business factors, such as diesel costs and falling car sales, caused the decision. 

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui announced at the last North American International Auto Show that his company would bring its first ever diesel engine to the USA in 2009, with most speculating that Acura’s TSX would be the first application of the powerplant.
 
Now various sources are reporting that the i-DTEC TSX has been put in the cooler indefinitely, presumably because the automatic transmission-equipped version of the has been unable to pass emissions testing. While the same source says that the six-speed manual-equipped car was able to cut the EPA mustard, Acura believes that offering the diesel TSX without an automatic option would greatly hurt demand for the vehicle.
 
Meanwhile the V-6 version of the car is reportedly being “fast-tracked” to make up for the diesel lack. That’s potentially good news for TSX fans but doesn’t do much for the growing legions of diesel-lovers in North America.

+ Vtec.net

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It seems that Acura is hard at work on a luxury CUV that would dice with the likes of BMW’s X6 for premium market dollars. The size and very general shape of this tented-up test mule lead our spy shooter to speculate that the Acura could have the same sort of coupe-like roof line that the X6 inhabits, though we’re going to need a lot of that cladding stripped away before we can say for sure.

The engine lineup for this intriguing crossover is likely to include Acura’s current 3.7-liter V-6 unit, and if rumors of the automaker developing its first ever V-8 are true, that powerplant would be a natural add for the new vehicle as well.
 
One interesting side note to these images is the fact of their locality, taken at Germany’s Nürburgring track. Testing at the ring could indicate that Acura may be coming to European shores for the first time since its inception, instead of wearing the more plebian Honda badges that Old World drivers are accustomed to.  Scroll down below to read the shooter’s own notes.

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Caption:

ACURA TL

Last Generation: 2004 - 2008
Current Generation: 2009

A lot of controversy has been stirred over the contrasting chevron grille that Acura has put on most of its new models, and while the last-gen TL wasn't necessarily a huge step forward in sporty expression, we prefer its cleaner lines and less-contrived aesthetic.

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Most of the time, when an automaker completely overhauls one of their models, it's a good step forward for not only the car, but for the brand it represents. However, there are other times where the design teams make some questionable decisions and the new products end up looking worse than their predecessors.

Thus, we present our list of ten cars that, from a design standpoint, we think looked better in their previous generation. Scroll through our gallery to see all of the contenders, and leave a comment with any cars that you think we may have missed, and/or maligned.

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Honda has boldly stated that its replacement for the Acura NSX will be faster than the famed Nissan GT-R.  Like the old NSX, the new model will be sold exclusively through Acura in the U.S. and is expected to arrive at dealerships in the 2011 model year (late 2010). This is to prevent watering-down the car's high-performance and luxury image in the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, and China (and soon, Russia). This does not include Australia, the UK and most other European countries. Availability in any of these countries will most likely be scarce.

Powered by an all new V-10 engine, Acura is convinced that the all new NSX will be truly "extreme," combining both luxury and high-performance in one package. According to the company's vice-president Koichi Kondo, though the car will be priced higher than the Nissan GT-R, it will also have better performance.

Check out the NSX prototype mule in our gallery above.

+ Motor Authority: Acura boasts NSX will be faster than Nissan GT-R

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Despite Acura’s wanting to keep the full details of its new TL under wraps until later this month, news has spilled forth revealing images and specifications for the sports sedan.

Acura will offer the TL in two different models, the front-wheel-drive base car and a more powerful version sporting the company’s Super Handling All-Wheel –Drive (SH-AWD). The standard car will be propelled by a 3.5-liter V-6 making 280 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. Select the range-topping SH-AWD car and you’ll receive a 3.7-liter V-6, which makes 305 horsepower and 275 pound-feet. Both models come standard with a paddle shift-equipped five-speed automatic transmission, and a manual version could crop up a year or so after the initial launch.

Stay tuned to NextAutos for our full review of the 2009 Acura TL as soon as the embargo on driving impressions is up. Until then feel free to explore our truly massive gallery of official TL images above, and tell us how you view the new sedan, in comments.

+ Edmunds Inside Line:  2009 Acura TL: Full Specs Revealed

Honda has been toying with us for a while now about the release date for the next version of the NSX. Originally the car was slated to be revealed at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, but the bad rap on the Acura Advanced Sports Car concept put the kibosh on that thinking.