Vehicle Spotlight: 2017 Acura NSX

August 5, 2017August 4, 2017 Gerald Charles 0 Comments Acura, Import Performance, NSX, Sport Car, Supercar

A Second Coming

Few fans of the reborn Acura NSX seem to have any interest in the second generation sportster’s towing capacity. However, this did not stop the model’s rebirth from hauling a boatload of anticipation. For fans of the Acura NSX, it has been a long 10 years since production was halted. The excitement for its return has been nothing short of overwhelming. And the competition it brings to its rivals, like the Nissan GT-R and the Audi R-8, has been missed in the compact sport universe.

What’s New for Acura NSX?

So what has changed since the last time we met the Acura NSX? Actually, quite a lot. NSX, which originally stood for “New Sportscar eXperimental”, now means “New Sports eXperience”. But to be certain, Acura’s changes are more than just the acronym. Most notably, there has been a fairly drastic size increase. The once svelte sportster is the recipient of a total redesign and now weighs in at a sturdy 3,868 pounds. The redesign features an aluminum frame and a new carbon fiber floor. This sleek new look is more than cosmetic, aimed at improving airflow around the vehicle and keeping the bigger new generation light on its feet. Lead designer Michelle Christensen has described the NSX as “An American muscle car in an Italian exotic car’s body.”

The Acura NSX of yesteryear made due with a 3.0L V-TEC V6. But the new iteration sees Acura (or Honda, depending on the market) upping the ante with a twin-turbo 3.5L V6. This hybridized creation gets assistance from three separate electric motors. One sits between the engine and the dual-clutch transmission. The others are a front-mount twin motor unit that powers the wheels and provides torque vectoring. Together, the power sources make for a roaring 573 combined horsepower output and 476 lb-ft of torque. With all-wheel drive, and a wild top speed electronically limited to 191 mph, it packs enough power and capability to rival any and all in its class. It can get from 0-60 in a blistering 3.0 seconds. So, the Acura NSX is not playing around.

Ahead Of The Curve

Acura has been throwing out phrases like “Modern Performance Hybrid” and “Everyday Supercar” in regards to their new powerhouse. It is clear that day-to-day usability is high on the list of Acura NSX selling points. The integration of electric power may seem like a novelty at the moment, but it certainly isn’t. In the very near future this will be commonplace, even in models far less premium than the NSX. It is an inevitability in the marketplace that Acura is positioning itself at the forefront of. Technological forward thinking like this has led to critical praise, such as Car And Driver declaring the NSX, “The future of performance cars, still in beta.”

Innovations of such a high magnitude seldom come for cheap, and the Acura NSX is not an exception to this rule. The price tag of these American designed, Ohio-assembled beauties starts off around $167,500. Inexpensive? No. But it is a fraction of the cost of some of the Italian supercars in its class utilizing similar hybrid technology. Just consider it an investment in the future of high performance sport vehicles, because the Acura NSX is leading that pack. If you have a half hour on your hands, then watch the NSX live on Jay Leno’s Garage.