The Nissan GT-R is definitely the hottest thing to come from Japan nowadays, but when it comes to mid-engined supercars, the Honda/Acura NSX set all the benchmarks. At least it did until 2005, when Honda decided to pull the plug on the sports car it had developed with input from Ayrton Senna, a man regarded by many as the best Formula One driver of all time. The NSX went on sale in 1990 with a 270-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 behind its seats. The engine was later updated to a 3.2-liter V-6 that cranked out 290 ponies. While its output wasn’t exactly impressive compared to contemporary supercars, the NSX was still incredibly fast thanks to its low curb weight. Zero to 60 mph took 5.1 seconds when the car was first released, but the benchmark dropped to 4.5 seconds by the late ’90s. The NSX ceased production in 2005, when Honda announced plans to develop a successor. Fast-forward to the 2015 North American International Auto Show, where after years of teasing and concept reveals, the 2016 Acura NSX finally became a reality.
A quarter of a century after the original NSX debuted, the second generation couldn’t be more different, apart from the number of cylinders and engine configuration, of course. Powered by a twin-turbocharged, 75-degree V-6 engine paired with three electric motors and a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), the 2016 Acura NSX is here and it means business.
"Our global team embraced the challenge to create a new sports car experience, leveraging new technology to deliver incredibly vivid performance in a vehicle that responds intuitively and immediately to the will of the driver," said Ted Klaus, chief engineer and global development leader for the model. "The NSX delivers pinnacle supercar performance, with zero-delay acceleration and exhilarating, confidence-inspiring driving dynamics."
Unlike the rear-wheel-driven first generation, the new NSX comes with SH-AWD, with the front wheels powered by two of the three electric motors. Despite being a globally developed sports car, the 2016 NSX was largely designed by a team led by American engineers from Honda’s development center in Raymond, Ohio, while production took place in Marysville, Ohio.
Updated 05/25/2016: Th first Acura NSX rolled out of the production line at the new Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio. The first unit went to Rick Hendrick whom will receive a custom-ordered NSX, after a winning bid of $1.2 million at the Barrett-Jackson auction in January. Hit "play" to watch the video from the event.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Acura NSX.
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