DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Awesome NSX uncovered
Honda reveals new twin-turbo V6/hybrid NSX in production form, with Acura badges for North American marketHonda's prestige brand Acura has unveiled the latest generation NSX in production form at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And the new car – a hybrid – addresses one of the few shortcomings of its illustrious forebear: performance.
The original Honda NSX was a revolutionary supercar at a time when Honda was a revolutionary company. The NSX in the early 90s blatantly exposed the weaknesses of European supercars with a chassis that was incredibly agile and driver friendly, allowing the driver to confidently use every kilowatt the small 3.0-litre V6 produced.
If there was a criticism, the NSX was underpowered. But that was an issue the next generation NSX was rumoured to overcome. No one realised the wait would be 25 years. Today, Acura revealed the second-generation NSX, and it delivers on every promise left unfulfilled by its predecessor.
New Sports Experimental (NSX) is the creation of Honda's US-based Acura brand. As early as 2010 gossip strongly suggested that the NSX design and powertrain had been signed off for production. Acura revealed the NSX Concept in 2012 at the North American International Auto Show, and the final production version revealed today closely follows the Concept's exterior design of 2012 but with significant and potent changes to the drivetrain.
Among those changes are rumoured to be the switch from naturally-aspirated to twin turbo, and re-orientation from transverse to longitudinal. Honda says that neither change delayed development of the new car, which is claimed to deliver best-in-class centre of gravity, courtesy of intensive use of aluminium for the body construction and suspension.
The 2015 Acura NSX will be built in the United States at Honda's new Ohio Research and Design Centre. Production is scheduled to begin third quarter, with the first deliveries expected before year's end. Honda Australia has raised its hand for the NSX, and anticipates its arrival in 2016.
Acura claims pricing for the new NSX will begin at around USD $150,000 for a base car. Ted Klaus, NSX chief engineer, expects few will be base models. Customers can 'option' their new NSX online. The NSX may not be an inexpensive car but it will be an extremely affordable supercar. According to Klaus, the NSX offers extreme driving performance generated by a unique powertrain delivering more than 410kW from a mid-mounted twin turbocharged V6 and three electric motors.
Klaus didn't provide specifics about when and how the electric motors will assist the petrol V6 engine, but he did claim that two electric motors will drive the front wheels while the third electric motor will directly drive the rear axle during hard launch from a stop. Acura refers to the unique powertrain as 3-Motor Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.
The longitudinal oriented V6 is mounted mid-rear within the NSX's aluminium chassis that combines carbon fibre and high-strength steel to achieve extreme rigidity. The twin turbocharged V6 mates to a nine-speed dual clutch transmission designed and manufactured by Honda/Acura.
Klaus describes the driving experience as intense, immediate and personal as the NSX intimately connects with the driver.
And you know, the driver-to-car connection is what made the original NSX so great.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
