This is the 2012 Honda CR-V Concept that made its public debut at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, California. It officially shows us the styling direction for the all-new, fourth-generation CR-V, which has been spied testing before. It’s set to go on sale in the US by the end of the year and the production car will debut at the LA Auto Show in November.

Compared to the current CR-V, the concept takes on a bolder look with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a stronger front fascia, which ditches the “double grille” look. The front bumper’s smooth-flowing lines are highlighted by a horizontal three-bar grille that encroaches into the multi-reflector headlight cluster. The lower bumper wraps upward to convey SUV capability with a generous approach angle; the design also improves aerodynamics.

The CR-V’s signature vertical rear taillights remain, but it’s now wrapped into the body, and the result hints at the Volvo XC60. The side glass area also sees a change in shape – the upper line falls all the way down in the current car, but both meet in the middle on the concept. The section aft of the rear doors appear bigger here, too.

We don’t expect the production model to look significantly different from this, perhaps with less showy wheels and a more subtle sump guard. Do you like where Honda is heading with the CR-V?

We’ve heard it before, but for good news such as this, it’s worth hearing another yes from the big man. Honda president and CEO Takanobu Ito is reported by Autocar UK to have confirmed that the company is making a “new NSX” on the eve of the Frankfurt show. He may be the boss now, but Ito is an engineer at heart.

“I spent part of my early career at Honda developing the NSX, and specifically the aluminium body. I really enjoyed that experience, and learned much, so it is my wish that Honda engineers have the experience of developing a sportscar like the NSX in future. Within Honda, our engineers are already looking at developing such a car,” Ito said.

“You can’t depend on a high power output to call a car sporty anymore. The original NSX was about high power but also good driving performance, and today power-to-weight is what we have to focus on. The NSX was known for its aluminium body, so when we develop our new sportscar we don’t want to copy Ferrari for power, but to also chase efficiency as well,” the man added.

Previous reports say that the production NSX will be based on the HSV-010GT race car that competes in Super GT. Funnily, that racer was supposed to be the production car before the latter was canned!

If you’re skeptical, we don’t blame you. After all, the much anticipated new NSX has been on and off for a long time. A successor to the mid engined flagship was originally slated for a 2010 launch, but the plans were thrown out in December 2008 by ex Honda boss Takeo Fukui. Reasons include the global financial crisis as well as ever growing environmental concerns.

The Honda brand has always been linked to engineering and performance, but these days, they seem to be only interested in hybrids. Ito hears our cries, though, and has in place plans to change this.

“Our recent efforts have been focused on fuel efficiency, and that perhaps gives the impression Honda is behind with pushing the brand image of sportiness, but let me assure you that is not the case. We will address that impression with our new generations of cars.”

Those are comforting words for the legions of Honda fans who yearn for the good old days!