Can you believe that we’re only a year away from the market launch of the hotly anticipated, second generation Honda / Acura NSX supercar? How time flies, indeed.

Given the short period to launch, the prototype nabbed by our spies running some hot laps around the Nürburgring should be very close to the production car that could be revealed as early as the end of this year or the beginning of 2015.

Honda has made some minor changes to the NSX from the last time we saw it at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August last year, including the addition of a smaller grille under the main one on the front bumper and two air vents on the hood, while it also reshaped the side skirts and changed the exhaust pipes.

For its motivation, the NSX will use the same powertrain previewed on the original concept back in 2012 at the Detroit Auto Show. It uses a longitudinally-mounted direct-injection V6 petrol engine paired to the Japanese firm’s three electric motor Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system. Two of the electric motors are placed on the front axle and can vary the amount of torque they apply separately, while the third motor is coupled to the engine that drives the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox.

Honda has been coy about power figures, but we’d be surprised if it didn’t get at least 400-horses.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

Photo Gallery