The Honda NSX is a mid-engine, two-seater coupe and a sports car manufactured by Honda from 1990 to 2005 and from 2016 to 2022. Seeing a chance to compete with Ferrari's best despite Honda's lack of resources, the Japanese automaker built the first Japanese supercar. Expectations for this undertaking were sky-high. An experiment that began as a joke has become a Japanese classic. The design of the McLaren F1, the previous world record holder for top speed, was also influenced by the NSX.
History of the Honda NSX
Honda NSX First Generation (NA1, NA2; 1990–2005)
While working on a concept automobile in 1984, Honda came up with the idea of a futuristic sports car. To create a sports automobile, they recruited Pininfarina. In addition to the Ferrari Testarossa, 348 TS, and F40, Pininfarina is known for several of its designs. Pininfarina created the Honda HP-X for aerodynamic performance, which had a sleek and efficient body. They rehired Pininfarina to develop the NS-X, which was based on the HP-X idea, for their Project NS-X, which stood for "New Sports Experimental." They settled on a V6 engine from the Honda Legend since it was dependable. They utilized Honda Legend engines as experimental mule engines. It wasn't enough for Honda, so they built a brand new engine: the 270 horsepower V6. Honda's motorsport team, including F1 legend Aryton Senna, was also significantly involved with the project.At the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, Honda unveiled the NSX and announced that it would go on sale in the Japanese market in 1990. The carmaker added the targa top to the coupe model in 1995. The automobile was remarkably advanced for its day, with an extremely robust aluminum chassis, an independent 4-channel anti-lock brake system, and electronic power steering.
Honda also equipped the vehicle with a 3L VTEC V6 engine with titanium connecting rods and the first electronic throttle control ever installed in a Honda vehicle. Visibility and design were based on an F-16 fighter jet's cockpit. The NSX quickly became a long-lasting exotic automobile, with some examples clocking up more than 100,000 miles.
Honda NSX-R
Many Honda NSX buyers wanted a model with no compromises in terms of performance. Only 483 copies of the 1992 NSX-R were ever produced, making it a one-of-a-kind vehicle for the Japanese market. Electric windows and electric seat adjustments fore and aft were carried over from the manufacturer. Honda deleted much of the extraneous equipment: the stereo system, a spare tire, air conditioning, and sound insulation. Air conditioning and Bose radio systems, for example, would be available as options, which would raise the price of the automobile significantly. Although it was minor, Honda made a single modification to the engine. They featured a crankshaft arrangement blueprinted and calibrated with the same level of perfection as Honda race car engines. Despite a slightly decreased top speed of 168 miles per hour, the new NSX-R's 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds was due to the car's better drive ratio. For Honda's customers in Japan, the NSX-R was designed to be more active on the racetrack and deliver more raw, crazy driving dynamics than the standard model.
Honda NSX (1997–2002)
To illustrate that supercars could be utilized as everyday vehicles, Honda released the NSX model in 1991. In 1997, it further upgraded the car. New Sportscar eXperimental was the nameplate's first three letters, and the car had an aluminum-alloy unit body. The mid-mounted engine and all-wheel independent suspension made the vehicle extremely fast. After driving the pre-production version, Formula 1 veteran Ayrton Senna sent back the technical team to develop the car and postponed the production model's release for eight months. Even so, the final product surpassed all expectations and increased the stiffness of the automobile by 50%. As the NSX became increasingly popular worldwide, buyers requested greater straight-line performance, not only outstanding handling. The changes for these model years were the grille, black pillars, new light-alloy wheels, instrument panel, and steering-wheel options. The car's drivetrain received the most attention. Honda introduced a new 3.2L V-6 engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Honda retained the 3.0L engine and a four-speed automatic transmission for the automatic variant.
Honda NSX (2002–2005)
Honda chose to give the NSX a makeover because its design had primarily remained untouched for almost a decade. Honda only made minimal changes to the original NSX body style in the new century. When Honda changed the initial pop-up headlights with permanent xenon headlamps in December 2001, they added slightly larger rear tires to suit a redesigned suspension system. The facelift of the Honda NSX comprises mild upgrades to the trims, upholstery, and instrument cluster.
Honda/Acura ASCC NSX (2007)
Tetsuo Iwamura, the CEO of American Honda, announced in December 2007 that they would release a revolutionary supercar fueled by a V10 engine in 2010.
Using the Acura ASCC (Advanced Sports Car Concept) as a starting point, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui challenged the development team to produce a vehicle quicker than its competitors in June 2008. Five prototypes of this vehicle were spotted testing on the Nürburgring in June of the same year. In a speech outlining Honda's updated financial estimates, Fukui said on December 17, 2008, that all preparations for a next-generation NSX had been shelved due to tough economic conditions. The Acura NSX project was renamed Honda HSV-010 GT in March 2010 when the economy began to improve, and they entered it into the Japanese SuperGT Championship. An engine of 3.4L sends more than 500 horsepower (373 kW) through the Ricardo sequential manual gearbox.
However, Honda never produced a street-legal version of the HSV-010 GT.
Honda NSX Second Generation (NC1; 2016–2022)
In April 2011, rumors circulated that Honda was working on a replacement for the first-generation NSX. The Acura NSX Concept was introduced at the 2012 North American International Auto Show as a second-generation NSX prototype in December 2011. The production model was unveiled at the 2015 North American International Auto Show and went on sale in 2016, three years after they showed the prototype. They renamed the meaning of the NSX from "New Sportscar eXperimental" to "New Sports eXperience." Head engineer Ted Klaus oversaw the design and engineering of the second-generation NSX at Honda's facility in Marysville, Ohio. Barrett Jackson held an auction on January 29, 2016, when they put off the first car in production. Rick Hendrick, the NASCAR team owner, won the auction for $1,200,000. The winning offer was given to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground organizations. NSX production began on May 24, 2016, with the first model going out the door on May 24, 2016. The R&D and manufacturing facilities for Honda's second-generation NSX are situated at Honda's previous North American Logistics site outside Marysville, Ohio, where production began in 2015. Honda employees build each powertrain component in their Anna, Ohio, engine facility. The second-generation NSX went on sale for the first time in the United States in June 2016. On August 12, 2021, the NSX Type S was unveiled. The Type S is the final upgrade before the discontinuation in 2022. Honda only made 300 units of the NSX Type S for the United States. The 2022 NSX Type S sports car, powered by a hybrid powertrain, will be Acura's top model, not a huge sedan or even a fully fitted full-size SUV. The system provides blazing performance with a twin-turbo V-6 paired with three electric motors. Still, it also allows for silent, electric-only driving so that your neighbors don't have a scream every minute you cruise past your neighborhood. Some drawbacks exist, such as the NSX's outdated cabin and infotainment system and the lack of internal storage.
Price
Honda/Acura retails the 2022 Acura NSX Type S with a starting price of $171,495. If you're interested in buying one of the Acuras, you should know that each new NSX is made at the company's Marysville, Ohio, plant in around 10 to 14 days. You can arrange a factory tour for customers who want to see their automobile manufactured at the appropriate time.
Features of the Honda NSX
Interior Features
This automobile has been dubbed the "everyday supercar," and it's undoubtedly comfortable and easy to drive. However, its interior lacks the luxury feel and high-end features that one expects from an Acura, much less the one designed to compete with the finest European vehicles. The optional leather, carbon-fiber steering wheel, and faux suede headliner make the interior luxurious. Bright red leather attracted some customers, while others viewed it as childish and overtly sexual. The seats cuddle their passengers for extended travel, the materials are of excellent quality, and the trunk is just spacious enough for some groceries. However, there are some issues with the infotainment system behind the steering wheel. Honda replaced the touchscreen volume slider with an actual volume knob for newer Acura and Honda cars. It isn't easy to see out the back of this mid-engine supercar, as with most of them. As a result, the inclusion of regular parking sensors at both ends is a welcome addition. Front pillars that aren't as thick help with forward visibility.
Exterior Features
The 2022 NSX Type S has a mid-engined supercar flair, comparable to a Ferrari or Lamborghini, but at a lower price point. In this situation, affordability is a relative concept. This year's edition includes front, side, and back aerodynamic components constructed of the same material and a carbon-fiber roof. Added to the 2022 NSX Type S color palette is Gotham Gray, a matte metallic palette. In the United States, just 70 of the last 300 new NSX automobiles will be this color.
Standard Features
- Adaptive Suspension
- Brembo Brakes
- 19×8.5 Alloy Wheels up Front
- 20×11 Alloys at the Back
- Rain-Sensing Wipers
- LED Exterior Lighting
- Heated Side Mirrors With Reverse Gear Tilt-Down
- Semi-aniline Leather/Simulated Suede (Alcantara) Upholstery
- Front/Rear Parking Sensors
- Garage Door Opener
- GPS-Linked Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
- Ambient Cabin Lighting
- Heated/4-Way Power-Adjustable Seats
- 7-inch Infotainment Touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Navigation With Real-Time Traffic Updates
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Three USB Ports
- An ELS Audio System
Specs and Performance of the Honda NSX
Honda installed a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 engine for the Honda NSX, and this model delivers 520 hp (388 kW) at 6,500 rpm and 443 lb-ft (601 Nm) of torque at 2,300–6,000 rpm. It also has three electric motors:
- Front right motor - 36 hp (27 kW) at 4,000 rpm & 54 lb-ft (73 Nm) at 0–2,000 rpm
- Front left motor - 36 hp (27 kW) at 4,000 rpm & 54 lb-ft (73 Nm) at 0–2,000 rpm
- Rear center motor - 47 hp (35 kW) at 3,000 rpm & 109 lb-ft (148 Nm) at 500–2,000 rpm
This Honda NSX accelerates from 0-60 mph (97 kph) in 2.9 seconds with a top speed of 191 mph (307 kph) and a curb weight of 3,898 lbs (1,768 kg). Honda manufactured the NSX model with a 9-speed automatic transmission with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) drivetrain.
Release Date
From 1990 to 2005, Honda released the NSX as the first generation, which meant "New Sportscare Xperimental." After its discontinuation in 2005, the carmaker unveiled the second-generation NSX at the 2015 North American International Auto Show. They started selling the new NSX in 2016.