Acura NSX Review
The Acura NSX, or honda NSX outside of North America, was a sports car produced from 1990 to 2005. It had a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout and was powered by V6 featuring Honda’s “variable valve timing and lift electronic control” (VTEC) system. It was originally made to compete with the Ferrari 328, and then the 348 as the design neared completion. Honda wanted the NSX to meet or exceed the performance of the Ferrari, while offering a lower price and more reliability. Originally powered by a 3.0L VTEC V6 engine, later models were equipped with a 3.2L.
The NSX was the first production car to have an all-aluminum chassis, suspension and body. It also featured an independent, 4-channel anti-lock brake system, titanium connecting rods, an electric power steering system, electronic throttle control, and VTEC which the NSX was the first model in North America equipped with this technology.
The NSX made its first public appearance at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989, and at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1989. The Honda NSX went on sale in Japan in 1990. In North America and Hong Kong, the NSX was sold under Honda’s Acura luxury brand starting in 1991.
NSX-R
While the NSX always was made to be a world-class sports car, engineers made compromises so that it would be a suitable balance between performance and reliability. For those NSX customers who wanted a pure racing experience, Honda decided in 1992 to produce a track-version of the NSX called the NSX-R. This model, only available in Japan, had its weight reduced by removing sound deadening, the audio system, and air conditioning system. The power leather seats were replaced by lightweight carbon fiber racing seats made by Recaro specifically for the NSX. The stock alloy wheels were replaced with forged aluminum wheels produced by Enkeim, which reduced the weight further. Overall, Honda managed to lower the weight by 265 lbs (120 kg), giving the final weight of the NSX-R a mere 2,712 lbs (1,230 kg). Honda then increased the final drive ratio by using a 4.235:1 ring and pinion gear instead of the 4.06:1 stock unit.
1997-2005
From the 1997 model on, Honda upgraded the engine to a 3.2L C32B engine which increased power output from from 273 PS to 280 PS. The 4-speed automatic model still used the 3.0 L engine with reduced power output (252 bhp). For the manual versions, a new 6-speed manual transmission was introduced. These changes improved straight line acceleration. Previous NSX had a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds while the newer models were as low as 4.5 seconds and a 13.2 second quarter mile time. Other changes included a brake rotor size increase from 11.1 in to 11.732 inches. Eventually, Honda deemed the NSX was not economically viable, with its very high cost of manufacturing and the company’s growing interest in producing a new model with a V10 engine and performance more comparable with the modern high-end performance sports cars. In July 2005, Honda announced that it would stop manufacturing NSX and start research and development on its successor. The last NSX sales in the US took place in Spokane, Washington in the summer of 2006.