Honda NSX

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Lore & Background

The origins of the Acura NSX can be traced back to 1984, with the HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental) concept, for a 3.0 L V6 rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car. Honda, with the intention of meeting or exceeding the performance of the then V8 engine Ferrari range, committed to the project, aiming at both reliability and a lower price. The concept evolved and had its name changed to NS-X, which stood for "New", "Sports car" "eXperimental", although the production model launched as the Acura NSX in the USA. The first generation was designed by a team led by Chief Designer Masahito Nakano and Executive Chief Engineer Shigeru Uehara. It benefited from advanced aerodynamics and styling inspired by the F-16 fighter jet cockpit as well as input, during the final development stages, from Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna. The car was presented at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. Production started in a purpose-made factory in Japan, for sale from 1990. It was originally available as a coupé, then, from 1995 onwards, as a targa top. It underwent a performance update in 1997, which saw the arrival of a larger 3.2 L V6 engine, and a facelift in 2002 where the pop-up headlights were replaced with fixed headlights. The first-generation NSX was discontinued in December 2005. Fewer than 20,000 were made. In December 2007, Acura announced plans to launch a NSX successor by 2010, based on the styling of the front V10-engined Acura ASCC, but plans were canceled due to "poor economic conditions." In March 2010, Honda unveiled the HSV-010 GT that participated in the Japanese Super GT Championship, but it never reached production as a street-legal car. By December 2011, Honda officially announced a second-generation NSX concept, unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show as the Acura NSX Concept. The production model was displayed at the 2015 North American International Auto Show and released for sale in 2016. Unlike the first-generation NSX which was manufactured in Japan, the second-generation NSX was designed, engineered and assembled in Marysville, Ohio, at Honda's plant, led by Chief Engineer Ted Klaus. The NSX Type S was revealed on August 12, 2021, with a power increase to 602 hp. The Type S is the last update before the NSX got discontinued in November 2022. 300 units only of the NSX Type S were destined for the United States, with 30 units for Japan, and 15 units for Canada.

Reader's Guide

The Honda NSX is significant as a pioneering sports car that combined advanced materials and technology with everyday usability. Its first generation was the first general production car to feature an all-aluminium semi-monocoque, setting a benchmark for lightweight construction. It was powered by an all-aluminium 3.0 L V6 engine featuring Honda's VTEC system, with a 5-speed manual transmission, or starting in 1994 the SportShift 4-speed automatic transmission. The second generation shifted to a hybrid electric powertrain, with a 3.5 L twin-turbocharged V6 engine and three electric motors, two of which form part of the SH-AWD drivetrain, altogether capable of 573 hp. The transmission is a 9-speed dual-clutch automatic. The car's body utilises a space frame design made from aluminium, ultra-high-strength steel, and other rigid and lightweight materials. Unlike the first-generation NSX, this did not feature VTEC. The first production vehicle with VIN #001 was auctioned off by Barrett Jackson on 29 January 2016. NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick won the auction with a bid for US$1,200,000, donated to the charities Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground. The first NSX rolled off the production line in Ohio on 27 May 2016 and Hendrick was there to drive it off. The first sales of the second-generation NSX in the US were registered in June 2016. The NSX Type S, with 602 hp, was the final variant before discontinuation in November 2022.

Did You Know?

• The NSX was the first general production car to feature an all-aluminium semi-monocoque.
• Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna provided input during the final development stages of the first-generation NSX.
• The second-generation NSX was designed, engineered and assembled in Marysville, Ohio, not in Japan.
• The first production NSX (VIN #001) was auctioned for US$1,200,000, with proceeds donated to charity.
• Only 300 units of the NSX Type S were destined for the United States, with 30 for Japan and 15 for Canada.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

A common misconception is that the NSX was always built in Japan; in fact, the second generation (2016–2022) was designed, engineered, and assembled in Marysville, Ohio. Another is that the car was always named the NSX; the first generation was originally sold as the Acura NSX in the United States, and the HP-X concept and NS-X name preceded it. Some also assume the second-generation NSX used a naturally aspirated engine like the first, but it actually employed a twin-turbocharged V6 paired with a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

The Honda NSX endures as a landmark in automotive engineering because it proved a Japanese sports car could rival and even exceed the performance of established Italian exotics like Ferrari—while offering far greater reliability and a lower price. Its groundbreaking use of an all-aluminum semi-monocoque body and direct input from Formula One legend Ayrton Senna cemented its legacy as a driver-focused machine that prioritized handling and innovation over raw power alone.