A legend returns, American-made.
The on-again, off-again project to resurrect the
Acura NSX is evidently on again as the Japanese automaker unveiled this dramatically styled concept at the
North American International Auto Show.
Acura says the car will bow in production form sometime in the next
three years and will be built in Ohio and engineered by a team led by
Honda R&D of America.
Remaining true to the roots of this legendary 2-seater, the
aluminum-intensive Acura NSX Concept features mid-engine placement and a
sleek shape that is every bit as contemporary as the original’s when it
debuted in 1990.
This newest iteration features a grille treatment with a trapezoidal
shape and large single bar dividing the space, similar to that used on
current production models. The opening is flanked by additional inlets
that also serve as chin spoilers. The sides feature stepped rocker
panels and the engine air is routed through intakes positioned just aft
of the doors. In addition to the thin row of typical concept car
lighting, the NSX concept also features a glass roof. Both items may not
make the transition to production.
The Acura NSX Concept is tidy, riding on a 101.4-in. wheelbase and
measures 170.5 in. overall. It stands just 45.7 in. high and is 74.6 in.
wide. The concept has 19x9-in. front and 20x10-in. rear wheels shod
respectively with 255/35R19 and 275/30R20 tires.
Like the original NSX, the new model will be powered by a mid-mounted
V-6 engine. While company officials provided few details on its
displacement, its widely believed that the direct injected powerplant
will be about 3.5 liters in size and produce at least 310 bhp.
But most important, the Acura NSX will showcase the division’s latest
iteration of Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which unlike the
previous mechanical application will employ hybrid power to give the car
exceptional handling. The engine will drive the rear wheels through a
7-speed dual clutch gearbox. An auxiliary lithium-ion battery pack will
power two front-mounted electric motors combined inboard in a single
housing, that provide an additional 100 hp, for a combined total output
of 410 hp. Each motor turns a front wheel and can speed up or use
regenerative braking to induce yaw for crisper turn-in as well as
correcting for either over- or understeer.
This is similar to the next generation SH-AWD which will be used on
Acura sedans, however, flipped to where the engine drives the front wheels and the electric motors handle the rear axle.
“This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate
expression of Acura’s idea to create synergy between man and machine,”
said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. The hybrid
offers two benefits, according to Ito—performance on par with sports
cars that have larger engines and all-wheel drive, but with the added
benefit of better fuel economy. “Like the first NSX, we will again
express high performance through engineering efficiency,” he maintained.
“In this new era, even as we focus on the fun-to-drive spirit of the
NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental
responsibilities.”
Eco-friendliness needn’t be dull, as the car is rumored to hit 60 mph in
3.0 sec. The production version’s price should hover around $100,000.
| Dimensions |
|
| Length: |
170.5 in. |
| Width: |
74.6 in. |
| Height: |
45.7 in. |
| Wheelbase: |
101.4 in. |
| Wheel size: |
19 x 9 in. (front) 20x 10 in. (rear) |
| Tire size: |
255/35R19 (front) 275/30R20 (rear) |
