Acura NSX (2015)

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For the first generation of Acura NSX sold from 1991–2005, see Honda NSX.
Acura NSX

NSX concept car at the 2012 New York International Auto Show
Overview
Manufacturer Honda
Production 2015–
Model years 2015–
Assembly Performance Manufacturing Center,[1]
Marysville, Ohio, United States
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Body style 2-door coupe
Layout Mid engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Chronology
Predecessor Honda HSV-010 GT

The Acura NSX is a hybrid-electric supercar, and a revival of the original Acura NSX, which was produced from 1991–2005. The new NSX is set to be released by Honda's Acura luxury division for the 2015 model year.

History

In December 2007, American Honda CEO, Tetsuo Iwamura, confirmed a new supercar powered by a V10 engine would make its introduction to the market by 2010.[2] The new sports car would be based on the Acura ASCC (Advanced Sports Car Concept) introduced at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.[3] With Honda CEO Takeo Fukui challenging the developers to make the vehicle faster than its rivals,[4] prototypes of the vehicle were seen testing on the Nürburgring in June 2008.[5] On 17 December 2008, Fukui announced during a speech about Honda's revised financial forecast that, due to poor economic conditions, all plans for a next-generation NSX had been cancelled.[6] In March 2010, the Acura NSX project changed name to Honda HSV-010 GT and was entered in the Japanese SuperGT Championship. The HSV-010 GT is powered by a 3.4-liter V8 sending somewhere in excess of 500 hp (373 kW) through the sequential manual gearbox from Ricardo.[citation needed] The HSV-010 GT was never made into production as a street-legal car.

In April 2011, Automotive News reported that Honda is developing a new sports car to be a successor to the NSX.[7] It reports that Honda CEO Ito said the car would be exhilarating to drive but also environmentally friendly. It is expected the vehicle will incorporate an electric drivetrain to give the gasoline engine a boost.[8] Back in late 2010, Motor Trend reported that Honda was looking into a mid-engine hybrid sports car, to be an NSX successor.[9]

Acura NSX Concept (2012)

The new concept retained the 2-door coupe, mid-engine, with an all-wheel drive formula. Weight is kept down through the use of a high-tech platform made from lightweight materials. Power comes from a V6 mounted behind the two occupants that sends its power to the rear wheels and is augmented by an electric motor. Acura's SH-AWD incorporates one electric motor in a dual-clutch transmission, forming a hybrid setup. Additionally, two more motors can instantly send negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering for improved handling and efficiency. Acura claims the new all-wheel-drive system will provide super car acceleration while offering better efficiency. Acura did not disclose how much horsepower its V6 engine and three electric motors will produce.

The vehicle was unveiled in 2012 North American Auto Show.[10][11]

Honda NSX Concept (2012)

The design was based on Acura NSX CONCEPT.

The vehicle was unveiled in 2012 Geneva Motor Show,[12] followed by 2013 Tokyo Motor Show (with white body colour).[13][14][15]

Further Acura Advanced NSX Concept (2013)

Changes to previous Acura NSX CONCEPT includes direct-injected VTEC V6 engine mounted on a lightweight vehicle body in a mid-ship layout, dynamic styling, Human Support Cockpit, an electric all-wheel drive system with Dual Clutch Transmission.

The vehicle was unveiled in 2013 North American International Auto Show.[16]

Acura NSX Prototype (2013)

On August 4, 2013, a prototype of the vehicle debuted prior to the running of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Honda announced plans to build a GTE racing model to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.[17][18][19]

NSX Concept-GT (2013)

It is a race car version of Honda NSX for the GT500 class of the 2014 SUPER GT Series, based on the Acura NSX Concept.

The vehicle was unveiled in Round 5 of 2013 AUTOBACS SUPER GT at Suzuka Circuit.[20][21]

Honda NSX Concept II (2013)

The vehicle was unveiled in 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.[22]

Production

Production of Acura NSX was chosen at a new Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio, housed inside Honda's former North American Logistics facility and located in the midst of Honda's existing R&D and production engineering operations. The associates at Honda's engine plant in Anna, Ohio, will assemble the NSX powertrain. Mass production of Acura NSX was set to begin in 2015.[23][24]

Motorsport

Honda plans to develop a GTE racing version of the NSX to run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2015 onward, to replace their discontinued Le Mans Prototypes like ARX-01 and ARX-02a. It is unknown if it will be a factory effort or if it will be run as a customer program, but Honda expects to race it in America—likely the United SportsCar Championship.[25]

The engine most likely to be used is a 90 degree (for height advantages) EarthDreams V6 (unrelated to the EarthDreams J35Y3 V6 to be used in the 2014 Acura RLX) that actually takes its lineage from the aborted 5.0 liter V10 project, which was the top engine for a modular performance engine lineup consisting of a 3.0 liter V6 for an S2000 replacement, a 4.0 liter V8 for a large Acura sedan/coupe, and the NSX V10 engine mentioned above, all DOHC. The 3.0 liter V6 variant was used in an early test mule for the new NSX.

Marketing

In September 2011, during filming of Marvel's The Avengers, Robert Downey, Jr. (playing the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man) was spotted in an exotic sportscar by Acura, made specifically for the film,[26] rather than the Audi R8 he previously drove in Iron Man and Iron Man 2. It was rumored that the car was a concept for the second generation NSX.[27][28]

As part of Acura NSX Concept launch in the US, a television advertisement for the vehicle featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno was premiered during Super Bowl XLVI.[29]

As part of Acura NSX launch, an online configuration tool was launched on Facebook.[30]

References

  1. ↑ "Acura NSX Supercar Will Be Made In The USA". Earth Techling. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013. 
  2. ↑ Schweinsberg, Christie (2007-12-17). "Acura NSX to Arrive in 2010". wardsauto.com. Ward's. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
  3. ↑ Spinelli, Mike (2007-01-08). "Detroit Auto Show: Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept". Jalopnik. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
  4. ↑ Hellwig, Ed (2008-06-17). "Fukui Tells Honda R&D: NSX Must be Faster Around the Nurburgring Than the GT-R". Inside Line. Edmunds.com. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
  5. ↑ Arnold, Mark (2008-06-20). "2010 Acura NSX Screams Around The 'Ring". Jalopnik. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
  6. ↑ "Acura NSX cancelled; Honda slashes forecast". Leftlane News. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
  7. ↑ Jake Holmes (2011-04-25). "Revival, Part Deux: Honda President Dishes on New NSX Successor". Automobile magazine. 
  8. ↑ Hans Greimel (2011-04-25). "Honda works on successor to NSX". Automotive News. 
  9. ↑ Steve Diehlman (2010-10-22). "Report: Honda Developing Hybrid Successor to NSX". Automobile magazine. 
  10. ↑ "Acura NSX Concept - First Look" - Motor Trend.
  11. ↑ Acura Debuts Three New Vehicles at the 2012 North American International Auto Show
  12. ↑ Honda NSX Concept and European CR-V Prototype Take Center Stage at Honda’s 2012 Geneva Motor Show Display
  13. ↑ 「第43回東京モーターショー」 Hondaブース出展概要について ～Honda独創のモビリティコンセプトモデルを出展～
  14. ↑ Tokyo 2013: White 2015 Honda NSX Concept Tokyo 2013: White 2015 Honda NSX Concept
  15. ↑ Honda Announces Overview of Exhibit for the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 - Outside-the-Box Mobility Concept Models on Display -
  16. ↑ Acura World Debuts All-New MDX Prototype and Further Advanced NSX Concept at the 2013 North American International Auto Show
  17. ↑ "2015 Acura NSX prototype takes a debut spin at Honda Indy 200". New York Daily News. August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  18. ↑ Snapshots from Acura NSX prototype run at Mid-Ohio
  19. ↑ Acura NSX Prototype to Break Cover at Mid-Ohio Raceway Prior to Honda Indy 200
  20. ↑ Honda debuts NSX Concept-GT hybrid racer
  21. ↑ Honda Unveils the NSX CONCEPT-GT Designated for Entry in the 2014 SUPER GT Series GT500 Class
  22. ↑ Honda at Frankfurt Motor Show 2013
  23. ↑ "Honda to build Acura NSX supercar in Ohio". USA Today. May 14, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013. 
  24. ↑ Acura NSX to be built in Ohio in 2015
  25. ↑ "Honda to race new Acura NSX" - Autoweek.
  26. ↑ Tony Stark trades his Audi for mystery Acura in The Avengers (UPDATED) Autoblog. Accessed on November 9, 2011.
  27. ↑ Acura Sports Car Concept from “Avengers” Flick Previews NSX Successor AutoGuide. Accessed on November 9, 2011.
  28. ↑ Avengers Movie Acura Concept Points The Way Towards New NSX: Report MotorAuthority. Accessed on November 9, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Jerry Seinfeld vs. Jay Leno Super Bowl Commercial: Acura NSX Ad Features Competing Comics". "The Huffington Post. 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2013-01-24. 
  30. ↑ Acura launches NSX colorizer on Facebook

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