As comics fans pore over countless set photos and production stills from The Avengers -- they got their first look at Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill just yesterday -- car aficionados have a much more narrow focus: Tony Stark's new ride.

It seems that the billionaire industrialist has traded in his Audi R8 for an unreleased Acura model that Auto Express says heralds the return of "the legendary Honda NSX supercar."

"Its appearance is hugely significant for fans keen to see Honda return to the supercar arena," Peter Lyon writes on the website.

That Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) is driving something from Honda's Acura line of luxury cars isn't a surprise: The auto manufacturer entered into a promotional sponsorship with Marvel for Thor, leading the Acura to become the "official vehicle" of S.H.I.E.L.D. That deal included the promotion of a recruiting drive for the fictional spy agency that included a website and Acura-branded signup stations at WonderCon.

But The Avengers looks to serve as the debut for Acura's successor to the NSX, much in the way that GoldenEye was for the BMW Z3, a move which signals the level of confidence and respect Hollywood and advertisers have in Marvel Studios' theatrical offerings.

Directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers also stars Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders and Stellan Skarsgård. It opens May 4, 2012.