Acura planning RSX successor?

Good news, Hondaphiles: Acura may be planning a return to the sports car game. According to Motor Trend, the Japanese automaker has plans to add up to three new performance-oriented models to its lineup over the next few years. While that includes a spiritual successor to the NSX, it may also mean that the RSX will return to life, as well. The entry-level sports hatch was nixed in the U.S. back in 2006, leaving the TSX to carry the burden of luring younger buyers to the brand.

MT reports that the RSX-successor is on the Acura near-term agenda, and that while supply issues kicked up by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters in Japan my delay the vehicle somewhat, it shouldn't be long before we start seeing three-door mules kicking around on public streets.

Under the hood, the vehicle will likely pack a modified version of the same 201-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine found in the recently unveiled 2012 Honda Civic Si. Expect to find a six-speed manual cog box, complete with a helical limited-slip differential, bolted behind that mill. Of course, this particular report has been kicking around since 2009, so we'll wait for a little more solid confirmation before busting out the welcome-back party hats.