Honda Kills all its Future Halo Models

The largest engine manufacturer in the world and one of the few Japanese companies not to suffer from an “efficiency is everything” syndrome is starting to really think about its future products from a very business-like point of view. After announcing that the NSX-replacement program will be killed (again!), Honda's bean counters are now taking a very good look at what could the other high-end models in the future pipeline bring to the company from a financial perspective.

Their first conclusion was the axing of the long-rumored plan for a V8, which would have been the company's first ever eight-cylinder engine, even though they have already resisted the urge of building one for decades. Of course, we can't really say they should be blamed for this considering the way people are looking at gas-guzzlers these days. Second on the bean counters agenda is apparently the killing of a future replacement for their hardcore two-seater roadster, the S2000.

Somewhat non-supportive of this decision, or even on the contrary, if you prefer, is the presentation of an S2000-based concept car with the “Sport Modulo” moniker added to its name at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show.

But wait, this is not everything! Honda CEO Takeo Fukui also announced that a rumored convertible version of the yet-to-be-launched CR-Z coupe will also be axed and that by 2012 they want to sell at least 500,000 hybrids per year, including the second generation Insight and the little Jazz/Fit.

Of course, considering Honda's premium brand, Acura, lost almost 40% in December US sales, the plan to kill practically every non-sustainable vehicle in the future line-up is starting to make a little sense. Even so, considering the amount of brand image but with small(ish) non-important sale numbers a halo model could bring, Honda's decision will most likely upset a lot of purists.