The Honda NSX is a two-seat, mid-engine coupe[1] sports automobile made by Honda that is sold in North America as the Acura NSX.
The HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental)[2] idea, a mid-engine 3.0 L V6 engine rear-wheel drive sports car, is where the NSX got its start in 1984. Honda committed to the project with the goal of providing reliability and a lower price point while matching or surpassing the performance of the Ferrari range’s V8 engines at the time. As a result, the idea changed, and the name was changed to NS-X, which stood for “New,” “Sportscar,” and “eXperimental”[3], despite the fact that the production vehicle was initially introduced as the NSX.
The McLaren F1 supercar’s designer, Gordon Murray, acknowledged that the NSX served as an influence for the F1 after testing a number of high-performance vehicles and discovering that the NSX chassis offered the best performance. The design, according to Murray, was “monumental” for sports car design. He discovered that the vehicle was readily capable of handling additional power and urged Honda to create a more potent engine, but they refused. Murray used a BMW engine to design the F1, but he loved the NSX so much that he bought one for himself and drove it for 75,000 miles. The NSX, according to Murray, is “close to his heart.” [4]
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What kind of engine was in the NSX?
A group lead by Chief Designer Masahito Nakano and Executive Chief Engineer Shigeru Uehara created the NSX. It benefited from cutting-edge aerodynamics and aesthetics that was modeled after the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet[5] and suggestions made by the late Formula One World Champion, Ayrton Senna, during the final stages of development.
This NSX made history by becoming the first mass-produced automobile with an all-aluminum body. It was equipped with a 3.0 L V6 engine made entirely of aluminum, the VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system developed by Honda in the 1980s, a 5-speed manual transmission, or starting in 1994, the SportShift 4-speed automatic transmission, also known as F-Matic, which offered manual and conventional automatic shifting via a fingertip shift lever on the steering column. [6] [7]
It was unveiled at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show and produced in a plant designed specifically for it in Japan, going on sale in 1990. It was initially sold as a coup and, starting in 1995, as a targa top. A larger 3.2 L V6 engine was added in 1997 to improve performance, while the pop-up headlights were eliminated in 2002 during a facelift. In 2005, the NSX of the first generation was discontinued. Models were marketed as the Acura NSX in North America.
The 3.0 L C30A engine-equipped vehicles are referred to as NA1 models, whereas the 3.2 L C32B engine-equipped vehicles are referred to as NA2 models.
[9]
Honda NSX: Is it a V8?
Tetsuo Iwamura, the CEO of Honda America, told the automotive media in December 2007 that a new sports car with a V10 engine would hit the market by 2010.
The Acura ASCC (Advanced Sports Vehicle Concept), which was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show, would serve as the basis for the future sports car.
[10] Takeo Fukui, CEO of Honda, issued a challenge to the engineers to create the vehicle faster around the Nurburgring than the Nissan GT-R.
[11] In June 2008, prototypes of the car were spotted undergoing testing on the Nurburgring.
[12] The next version of the NSX was never going to happen, according to Fukui, who made the announcement on December 17, 2008, during a speech about Honda’s updated financial projections. He cited the weak economy as the reason for the decision. [13] The Acura NSX project’s name was changed to the Honda HSV-010 GT in March 2010, and the vehicle was entered in the Japanese Super GT Championship. The HSV-010 GT has a sequential manual transmission from Ricardo and a 3.4-liter V8 engine with a power output of more than 500 horsepower (373 kW). The HSV-010 GT was never brought to the point of manufacturing.
Honda reportedly started working on a new sports car to replace the original NSX in April 2011 according to Automobile magazine.
[14] The car would not only be thrilling to drive but also environmentally sustainable, according to the magazine. It was anticipated that the car will use an electric drivetrain to augment the power of the gasoline engine. [15] Honda was developing a mid-engine hybrid electric sports car as the NSX’s replacement, according to a late 2010 Motor Trend story. [16]
Acura said in December 2011 that the concept version of the NSX’s next generation would debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. Acura revealed the 2012 Acura NSX Concept to the public on January 9, 2012. [17]
The redesigned concept still had a two-door coupe design with a middle engine, but it also had all-wheel drive. The minimal weight was made possible by the employment of a high-tech platform constructed from thin materials. The rear wheels received power from a 3.5-liter V6 engine positioned behind the cockpit. One electric motor is incorporated into Acura’s SH-dual-clutch AWD’s transmission to supplement the combustion engine, creating a hybrid system. The powertrain additionally had two additional electric motors that could instantaneously apply positive or negative torque to the front wheels when cornering.
In comparison to the natively aspirated 4.5-liter V8 engine in the Ferrari 458, the NSX’s primary rival at the time, Acura said the resulting all-wheel drive system would deliver superior handling and matched acceleration while also offering higher efficiency.
The NSX has VTEC, right?
Everything. The initial NSX’s manufacture has been halted for ten years. The 3.0-liter VTEC V-6 in that vehicle was normally aspirated, but the all-new Acura NSX has a custom twin-turbo V-6 and three electric motors.
How many more NSX are there?
Highlights of the 2022 Acura NSX Type S: Only 350 vehicles will be produced, with 300 going to the American market. The fastest and most potent road-going Acura ever, with 600 horsepower (+27) and 492 lb-ft.
Honda NSXs are quick.
The contemporary NSX took a while to develop, just like many other Japanese sports cars. Although we first saw it in concept form in 2012, it wasn’t until 2016 that the UK saw it go on sale. It boasts a mid-mounted V6 petrol engine, similar to the previous NSX, but this time it has twin turbos and electrical assistance to produce 573bhp and a hefty 645Nm of torque, and the three-motor setup (two up front, one at the rear) offers the NSX four-wheel drive. The Honda NSX has a top speed of 191 mph and speeds from 0 to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds.
Why aren’t Acura NSX sales up?
a need for an update to the infotainment system Unfortunately, the Acura NSX’s infotainment system is antiquated. In particular, the graphics pale in comparison to what is currently on the market. The touchscreen ought to be as impressive as the car’s capabilities in this era of connection, but that isn’t the case in this instance. Manufacturers frequently assert that technology helps sell automobiles.
A NSX is it a supercar?
Yes, by the standards of its day, the NSX is a supercar in the best sense of the word.
You have everything you need in a single vehicle:
- backwards-wheel drive
- Excellent power/performance, thanks to a cutting-edge engine and building techniques, on par with modern supercars from manufacturers like Ferrari.
- two chairs
- Mid-engine positioning
The performance of the second-generation NSX is even more astounding, and it is conceivable to elevate it to the level of a hypercar rather than just a supercar.
Read our Honda/Acura NSX buyer’s guide here if you’re curious to learn more about the first-generation NSX.
What was the price of the first NSX?
The original Acura NSX made its American premiere in 1991 and continued to be produced for for fifteen years, until 2005. The MSRP of the 1991 Acura NSX was $62,000 at the time of its introduction. The MSRP, or manufacturer’s suggested retail price, is the value a manufacturer assigns to a car. The Acura NSX cost $62,000 in 1991, which was not very cheap for the car but did make it one of the best-value supercars at the time. The Acura NSX earned such a stellar reputation over its nearly fifteen years of existence that it is now one of the most cherished supercars in America. Despite its poor handling, high price, and ugly exterior, this car will always be associated with popular culture.
How many NSX R models were produced?
There isn’t much information available regarding the 2002 Honda NSX-original R’s purchase price or even the precise number of units produced. However, there are numerous more things that we are certain of or that we do know.
First off, the price would have been far higher than the $89,000 USD equivalent needed to purchase a normal NSX from the same year. The NSX Type-R and NSX-R won’t be an exception to the general trend of rising pricing for all NA1 and NA2 NSXs, which is the second reason.
Coincidentally, a 1992 NSX Type-R and a 2002 NSX-R were put up for auction in Japan earlier this year. With only 140 NSX-Rs produced, according to the auction house, this immaculate specimen of a highly sought-after automobile is expected to fetch between $345,000 and $436,000 USD.
That should exclude everyone except the most devoted and wealthy collectors, of which there ought to be enough to satisfy any supply/demand requirements, even at those prices.
Honda stopped utilizing VTEC when?
The 2017 Honda Civic Si will include a turbocharged engine, which is a first for the trim, and will go on sale next month for around $20,000. The 1.5-liter engine has the same 205 horsepower as the old 2.4-liter four with naturally aspirated gas. However, compared to the normally aspirated engine, torque is up 18 lb-ft to 192. The Civic Si should be enjoyable to drive because it has more power accessible lower in the rpm range and a standard six-speed manual transmission.
A sport-tuned suspension with firmer springs and antiroll bars helps to improve car control. Honda claims the new Si is substantially lighter than the previous version (without providing details). A two-mode adaptive damper system (sport and normal), a limited-slip differential, and larger 12.3-inch front brake rotors are all included as standard equipment.
The coupe and sedan both feature subdued design (at least compared to the Type R). The Si gets wider side vents at the back, black trim on the front fascia, 18-inch, 10-spoke wheels, and center-exit exhaust. No flashy body kits or extraneous wings are present.
It will be interesting to see how the 2017 Civic Si stacks up against rivals like the Ford Focus ST, Subaru Impreza WRX, and Volkswagen Golf GTI. With starting costs in the mid-$20,000 range and greater power than the Si, the competition may damage Honda’s new Si. Alternately, the Si could triumph despite lacking VTEC. As soon as we can get behind the wheel, we’ll let you know.