It is hard to believe it has been 25 years since the original NSX was first launched. In 25 years they have seen the rise of Japanese performance cars, their inevitable demise at the hands of a recession and a shift market, and the slow re-introduction of performance models to the market. They have come full circle, and Honda (or Acura) is ready to bring back their supercar fighter.
This time around, the NSX is powered by a hybrid powertrain. Power figures are said to be north of 550 horses, this being Acura’s approach to producing more upmarket hybrid systems, much like Porsche’s 918 Spyder. The powertrain is a pretty complex system. It consists of a twin-turbocharged V6 motor paired with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission that delivers power to the rear wheels, with one direct-drive electric motor to assist. But the front wheels are also powered by two smaller motors which can vary left to right torque outputs- effectively creating a very clever all-wheel drive system (SH-AWD under Acura’s lingo).
Acura has spent a lot of work developing the chassis as well, as one would expect with a flagship model. Designed with a space-frame skeleton and a carbon fibre floor, the chassis is kept extremely light- much like any other supercar on the market. Body panels are made up of aluminium and sheet metal composite, which is said to combine the flexibility of a casting system with the strength of a forging process.
Overall dimensions of the NSX have lengthened by 3 inches and widened by 1 inch, which isn’t a huge amount considering how much larger cars have become over the last 2 decades. Aerodynamics have been tailored to provide a combination of downforce and extra cooling for the various systems- especially the hybrid battery pack which will no doubt be working overtime.
With Acura being a primarily American brand, the NSX will be manufactured exclusively in Acura’s Performance Manufacturing Centre, in Marysville, Ohio. A team of around 100 highly-skilled associates were selected for the manufacturing of the NSX in order to produce the car- much like any small scale supercar manufacturer.
