Acura NSX: Is This Beast The Hottest Thing To Come Out Of Japan In 2016?
The thing about Japanese supercars is that there aren’t many of them around these days. At least, not brand new ones that you can go to a dealership and buy today! Sure, we’ve been treated to the likes of the Lexus LFA so far. But, most supercars you can buy new today hail from Italy.
There is a new kid in town that’s just come over from Japan. Okay, the Acura NSX isn’t a brand new model as such. Rather, it’s a new generation of the supercar from Honda’s design and engineering teams. Let me talk you through the car’s specs and why you’ll want to throw some cash at your nearest Acura dealer soon!
It looks like a supercar
Let’s face it; no-one will take your supercar seriously if it looks like an ordinary coupe! The good news is that the new Acura NSX will get noticed wherever it goes – and for the right reasons too!
Building on the success of the previous generation, the car embodies Honda’s distinctive styling. But, it does so at an extreme level; it looks nothing like an Accord coupe! The design team behind the new NSX supercar have put aerodynamics at the top of their priority list.
During the prototype stages, the NSX has spent many hours getting tested in wind tunnels. Thousands of them, in fact! The result? A car that produces three times as much downforce at the back than at the front.
The front end has fully-functional air intakes in the bumper and airflow exits on the hood. And the way the subframe got designed means directed air even cools the rear brakes!
When it comes to supercar styling, the Acura NSX has it all. For a start, it’s got 19-inch 3D-machined alloy wheels wrapped in Continental tires. Underneath them are some sexy Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes! They include two-piece rotors with six-piston calipers.
Standing afar from the NSX, you’ll notice the car has a low and mean stance; perfect for a supercar! To complement the supercar look, owners can upgrade to the carbon fiber exterior package.
It goes like a supercar
As you would expect, the Acura NSX offers drivers quite a lot of power on demand! Honda has followed Toyota’s suit with the Lexus LFA and gone down the hybrid route with the NSX.
Let’s talk about the combustion engine first of all. As standard, you get a 3.5-liter V6 engine with two turbochargers bolted to it. The variable valve timing engine has also got a dry sump for extra oil lubrication around the track! It boasts 500 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of just 2.7 seconds! Top speed is a modest 190 mph.
Now, as I mentioned, the car has a hybrid powertrain. On the electric side, you’ve got motors that are good for 73 horsepower combined. It offers the extra power during launch when you need it most.
We can all agree that the Acura NSX comes with an insane amount of power as standard! If you don’t want to call an auto accident attorney whenever you drive, you need to tame their driving. This is a car that will get you from zero to OMG before you know it!
As is the trend with many cars these days, the Acura NSX comes with a 9-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It offers razor-sharp and precision shifting. Gone are the days of the “lazymatic” as I call it. Today’s DCTs are intelligent and even more efficient than manuals! The only downside is it’ll take some getting used to!
Sleek interior design
So far, you know what the exterior of the Acura NSX is like. You also know how the mid-engine hybrid power plant setup works. But, how does the cabin of this new hybrid supercar stack up with its exterior design?
It looks like Honda has opted for a sleek yet minimalist finish when it came to designing the Acura NSX. New owners can expect comfort and robustness when it comes to the NSX’s interior design.
The leather upholstery makes the supercar interior feel comfortable and inviting. Meanwhile, the steering wheel design offers practicality for both road and track driving. The center console of the Acura NSX also doesn’t resemble the cockpit of a Boeing 777! That makes the car better on the eye for both drivers and passengers.
Anyone that has ever driven an Acura or Honda before will tell you one thing: they are silent inside! Of course, when you drive an NSX, it’s all about the noise! You can control the engine note that you hear in the cabin through some electronic dials in the cabin.
Conclusion
The Acura NSX isn’t the first hybrid supercar on the market. But, it will give you an exhilarating experience that, in my opinion, is second to none. Take one out for a spin today; just don’t blame me if you end up buying one at the same time!