Acura NSX Hybrid Supercar Races to Production
Photo: Acura
What is it? Three years after the original NSX concept was unveiled at the Detroit auto show, Acura has taken the cover off its edgy, high-tech second-generation NSX.
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What’s new or notable?
The midship heart of this supercar is a 75-degree, twin-turbo V6 with a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, teamed with three electric motors. One sits between the engine and rear drive wheels, to boost acceleration and braking. The other two are positioned at each front wheel, to provide all wheel drive and quicker throttle response with improved torque distribution. Total output is claimed to be over 550 horsepower. But the real trick is that the motors are configured to provide zero-delay acceleration, and the battery pack is positioned to provide the lowest center of gravity in the class, Acura claims.
Compared against the original NSX, this new model is about two inches longer and five inches wider.
Despite the ultra-high-performance the NSX promises, Acura said it was designed to be piloted by drivers of all abilities. Among the virtues for the previous NSX was just how livable it was, being easy to drive for such an exotic.
Pricing will start in the mid $150,000 range, and there will be some customization available. It should prove to be an interesting competitor for the just-announced Ford GT.
CR’s take: The NSX was designed and engineered in America, and it will be built in Ohio. How crazy is that? Imagine if Chevrolet let Opel design, develop and build the Corvette… An interesting side note: Halfway through vehicle development, engineers changed the powertrain from a transverse-mounted V-6 to a twin-turbo longitudinally mounted V-6. They equate that task to “open heart surgery while running a marathon.”
When will it be available? Orders begin Summer 2015. Deliveries Fall 2015.
