2015 may mark the return of Acura’s NSX to supercar status (video)
Supercar: “A very expensive and fast sports car.” According to the English Oxford dictionary, the term Supercar was first coined in 1920 in reference to a Bentley Speed 6.
The Honda NSX, branded as an Acura in Hong Kong and the United States was introduced to the world in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show; and has enjoyed a cult status ever since. This author drove one in 92.’ Back in the day of the Ford GT, Lotus Elan and Mangusta, the NSX stood out as a rare bird in a cage a gilded excess.
The car was by import sports class standard was exceptional in its performance, understated style and trouble free reliability.
It’s not unusual to find a 90s NSX today with 200,000 trouble-free miles on the odometer.
The original (NS-X) was developed by Honda to take on the then formidable Ferrari 328. The F1 inspired 2712 lb aluminum bodied 3.0 liter VTEC V6, captured the imaginations of a burgeoning tech savvy society; ready to embrace a trouble free Japanese built street legal supercar.
Despite a relatively low horsepower and torque output, the aluminum bodied NSX recorded 0-60 mph times of 5.7 seconds, fast, even by today’s standards.
The NSX would be manufactured with several cosmetic and mechanical upgrades for 15 years, but would leave the market in 2005; with promises of a 2nd generation always within arms length of those wishing for one.
Honda’s 2007 announced return of the supercar for model year 2010, was retracted due to the world recession of that decade.
Although a NSX replacement( HSV-010) would race the GT500 class in 2010, the Honda loyal would not hear of a new Ohio built NSX until the unveiling of a concept car at the 2012 North American Auto Show.
2 years and counting.
If Acura holds true to the concept, the next NSX will be like nothing else on the planet, if in-fact it ever comes to market on planet Earth.
Video attributions: Car Jam TV.Com.