New Honda NSX to be built in USA

It may come as a jolt to NSX aficionados, but Honda has announced it will build its long-awaited next-generation NSX at a new factory in Ohio, USA.

According to Honda, the $70 million advanced production facility, dubbed the Performance Manufacturing Centre, encompasses 184,000 square feet and will be housed inside Honda’s former North American logistics facility.

Honda also announced that Honda R&D Americas chief engineer Ted Klaus is leading the global team developing the new NSX, and Clement D’ Souza, associate chief engineer at Honda of America, is heading the team that will bring the car to mass production in 2015.?
The new plant is Honda’s third in the US and it’s located close to the Honda R&D Americas Ohio Centre that is engineering the supercar for production.

It’s a distinct departure from tradition as the original Honda NSX was built at the Takanezawa Plant in Japan from 1990 until production moved to the Suzuka Plant in early 2004, where it was produced until 2005.

Although not confirmed by the manufacturer, it’s likely the move to US production is largely cost-based, particularly as the States is likely to be the biggest market for the mid-engined supercar.

The original NSX was renowned as a superbly balanced and user-friendly sportster that eclipsed its Ferrari/Lamborghini contemporaries in terms of all-around dynamics, and some of that recipe has carried through to the modern-day interpretation.

The second-gen NSX clearly draws at least some styling inspiration from its ancestor, as well as again using a mid-mounted V6 powerplant – albeit this time boosted by a trio of electric motors.

It also promises superior traction (not that the original was lacking in this department) via a SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system.

Although it will be badged as an Acura in the US, the reborn NSX will retain Honda badges in other markets when it goes on sale in 2015.

“The first NSX redefined the sports car world and this car will hopefully do the same, with new technologies that will cascade down to other models in the Acura line,” said

Clement D’Souza, Associate Chief Engineer at Honda of America.

?“This new plant will be as unique as the vehicle we will build here,” he added. “In creating the plan for this plant, we looked closely at each process and determined the perfect blend of associate craftsmanship and technology to adopt a new approach to manufacturing.”

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