LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
Detroit, MI — After what seems to be about five to 5,000 concept versions, the production version of Acura’s all-new NSX supercar finally made its debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.
The numbers are strong: that’s four motors (two electric motors on the front axle, one petrol V6, and a third electric motor set between the transmission and mid-mounted engine), all-wheel drive courtesy of Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive tech, and 9 speeds, courtesy of a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The power? Over 550 hp.
It looks the part, too; smart detailing like the air intakes ahead of the rear wheels, ceramic disc brakes with red calipers and gaping front fascia all do their part to ensure the supercar establishment will take notice of the NSX. Many of the concept versions were clearly futuristic design exercises with detailing that was never slated for production, but the end result is still fantastic. Under the skin, a vast array of materials will help the NSX walk the walk; carbon fibre, aluminum and ultra high-strength steel make up the body and chassis.
Inside, a tall centre console and wide door armrests make for a cockpit that’s sure to embrace the occupants. Styling-wise, inside is very different from any Acura product currently on sale today. As it should be; this is a halo supercar, after all.
There’s no gear lever of any kind, just centre console-mounted buttons. The four drive modes—“Quiet” (EV), “Sport”, “Sport +” and “Track” are all adjusted via a dial on the centre stack, mounted just below the infotainment screen. The steering wheel, meanwhile, gets flat edges so as not to interfere with the driver’s legs. The cockpit is one futuristic place to be.
Really, though, the NSX itself could very well be the harbinger of things to come in the sports car world; yes, hybrid supercars (McLaren P1, LaFerrari) have been out for a bit, now, but the NSX will surely be more accessible to more people. Those same people will likely compare it to the GT-R, which kind of stands out right now as the technical sports car, but with that hybrid tech, the NSX is back with a vengeance. The GT-R has ruled the roost of the Japanese sports car ever since the last NSX rolled off the line in 2005; it’s time for Acura to get back in the minds of enthusiasts.
