CAR REPAIRE: Honda / Acura NSX

Showing posts with label Honda / Acura NSX. Show all posts

Monday, February 6, 2012

Honda Takes a Look at the Past and Future of the NSX Sports Coupe

Back in the early 1990s when the Japanese auto industry went sports car crazy churning out models like the third generation Mazda RX-7, the Mitsubishi 3000GT, the Nissan 300ZX and Skyline GT-R, and the Toyota Supra, one vehicle stood out from the rest and that was the Honda / Acura NSX.

The NSX taught American and European car manufactures a lesson or two on how to build a high-performance sports car that not only looked good but also was reliable and reasonably priced for what it had to offer.

The fact that it remained in production virtually unchanged for 15 years from 1990 to 2005 is a testament to the innovation of its original design.

Acura Releases Second Super Bowl Ad with Jerry Seinfeld Trying to get the NSX

With close to 7 million views on YouTube in just three days after it launched, Acura's first ever Super Bowl commercial titled "Transactions" with Jerry Seinfeld trying to be the first in line to take delivery on the upcoming NSX, is one of the most watched ads of this year's game.

Therefore, it only makes sense that Acura will bet heavily on the commercial to create more buzz around its name.

Following the extended version of the original ad, Acura has released a second commercial with Jerry Seinfeld, who once again attempts to convince the man who secured the first NSX to give him his place through bribery, which in this case involves a Munchkin.

Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno Pitch for Acura's NSX Super Bowl Commercial

The Honda group isn't playing games with its Super Bowl spots this year, that's for sure. After recruiting Matthew Broderick to reprise his role as Ferris Bueller in the 2012 Honda CR-X ad, the Japanese firm's premium brand Acura has hired its own stars for its first ever Super Bowl appearance.

The new Acura spot for the upcoming NSX features comedian Jerry Seinfeld with Tonight Show host Jay Leno making a special appearance towards the end of the commercial, the extended version of which you can see right after the break.

The ad shows Jerry Seinfeld going to extremes to be able to be the first one in line to buy the Acura NSX hybrid sports car (seen here in concept guise) that's scheduled to go on sale in 2015, only to be beaten in the end by Leno.

New Acura NSX Concept Meets Old in Gran Turismo 5 Video

Now that was pretty fast. The creators of Sony's wildly successful Gran Turismo racing game series have released a new video that brings to life both the brand-new Acura NSX Concept that was revealed just the other day at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and the original model, which was marketed under the Honda brand name outside North America. Read more »

Monday, January 9, 2012

This is the New Acura / Honda NSX Sports Hybrid Concept that will Enter Production by 2015

Acura has just introduced the NSX Concept at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and these are the first official photos.

The Japanese automaker has shown several concept models over the years for a replacement to the iconic Honda / Acura NSX that was built from 1990 until 2005, but for one reason or the other, none of them managed to reach the production phase

This time, however, Acura says the NSX Concept is the real deal with the production model to debut within the next three years. Interestingly, Acura says that it will developed by an engineering team led by Honda R&D Americas, and manufactured in Ohio, at a yet to be named facility.

Like the original model, the NSX features a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V6 engine but with a twist; Acura's engineers added the firm's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system that utilizes three electric motors.

Acura Confirms NSX Concept, an All-New ILX Compact Sports Sedan and 2013 RDX Crossover for Detroit Show

[1st Gen Acura NSX Pacecar pictured above]

There's a lot of news coming out from Honda's headquarters today. Following the announcement on the Accord Concept study that will preview the ninth-generation of Honda's mid-size model series, the Japanese automaker's luxury division Acura also confirmed its plans for the rapidly approaching 2012 Detroit Motor Show.

The star of Acura's lineup will be a concept version of the next generation NSX super car which in the company's own words, "represents the styling direction for the next generation of Acura's super sports car".

New Honda NSX Concept Reportedly Coming to Detroit Show, May get 3.5L V6 Hybrid Powertrain

When Honda CEO Takanobu Ito confirmed the NSX replacement, it made sense that the new sports car would be revealed at the Japanese company's home turf. However, Honda displayed the compact EV-STER concept instead, a small RWD roadster that resembles the 1990’s Beat.

There’s no reason for disappointment though as British publication Autocar is reporting that Honda plans to debut a new concept called 'Super Sports' at the Detroit Motor Show in mid-January.

Rumors: New Honda / Acura NSX Could be Unveiled as Early as the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

[2003 Honda HSC Concept pictured above]

Finally, Honda has stopped beating around the bush and has come out in the open about the successor to the NSX, revealing more details about its forthcoming sports car.

The bottom line is that: the new NSX is coming; it will be a real sports car in the vein of the original (that is, lightweight and easy to drive); it will probably use next-generation hybrid technology; its unveiling is imminent and it could go on sale much sooner than anyone suspected.

Honda CEO Confirms New NSX and “Hot” 2012 Civic Type R

[2003 Honda HSC Concept pictured above]

Last April, we told you about Honda CEO Takanobu Ito's plans for a successor to the much-missed NSX supercar. Ito had then hinted that the “new NSX” would be more environmentally friendly, possibly using a hybrid powertrain like the Japanese firm's new small coupe, the CR-Z.

On the sidelines of this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, Ito-San reaffirmed the company's commitment to build an NSX successor.

“I spent part of my early career at Honda developing the NSX, and specifically the aluminium body," Ito told reporters from UK's Autocar. "I really enjoyed the experience and learned much, so my wish is that Honda engineers have the experience of developing a sportscar like the NSX in the future. Within Honda, our engineers are already looking at developing such a car,” he added.

Honda President Says NSX Successor Back on Track, May Use a Hybrid Drivetrain

The Shanghai Auto Show brought some exciting news for Honda fans as the Japanese automaker revealed plans for the development of a new sports car that will be the spiritual successor to the iconic Honda NSX (Acura NSX in North America).

Speaking on the sidelines of the show, Honda Motor Company president, Takanobu Ito, said the new car won't feature the V10 engine that had been planned for the next NSX, as the company scrapped this project back in 2008, during the global financial crisis. Ito told reporters that the future NSX would be exhilarating to drive but also environmentally friendly. “That's the kind of sports car we want to make. We are working very hard on it,” Ito was quoted as saying by Autonews.

Honda President Reportedly Confirms NSX Successor based on the HSV Racer

According to reports from Japan, Honda President Takanobu Ito has stated that the company is has restarted development on a high-performance sports car that will be positioned as the successor of the critically acclaimed NSX. The announcement was made on Friday, at a press conference detailing Honda’s 2011 motorsport involvement.

Honda to Debut CR-Z TS-1X Concept at this week's Tokyo Auto Salon

With the conclusion of the press days of the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, the automotive world is now shifting its focus on the Tokyo Auto Salon 2011, which will be held from Friday, January 14, to Sunday, January 16, at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

At this year's event, Honda will be presenting several vehicles including the TS-1X concept study based on the CR-Z hybrid. The prototype model is the work of Honda Access Corporation, the Japanese carmaker's in-house aftermarket division.

Italian Sushi: Acura / Honda NSX-Based Lamborghini Diablo Replica for Sale

Found on ebay Motors is this...work of art: a Lambo'd-out Acura NSX. Located in Branson, Missouri, this orange Frankenstein can be yours for the low-low price of $49,000. The title is labeled as clear, it's got 94,000 miles on it, and (not surprisingly) there's no warranty. Not exactly our cup of tea, but we've seen much, much worse. Photo gallery after the jump.

Papecraft Love: The Lightest Honda NSX Super GT, Ever

The racing version of the Honda NSX for the Japanese Super GT series is on its way out as it will be replaced by the new HSV-10 GT that we told you about earlier today, but the supercar still holds a special place in the hearts of Honda fans.

Among the many displays at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2010 was a real-life size example of the Epson Nakajima Racing Honda NSX built entirely out of cardboard and paper. Awesome to say the least. Full photo gallery after the jump.

Motorshow photos by Phil Alex with the help of friends Mike and Aaron

Honda Releases New Photos and Spec Sheet on HSV-010 GT Racer

Today, Honda officially introduced its all-new HSV-010 GT racing car with which it will compete in the GT500 class of the Japanese 2010 Super GT series. The HSV-010 GT, which will take the place of the racing variant of the NSX, is all that has been left from Honda's V10 powered supercar project that got canned at the end of 2008 due to the recession.

Instead of wasting all the work that went into the development of the Honda / Acura NSX's spiritual replacement, the Japanese firm decided to use the supercar as a base for its Super GT contender.

Although the HSV-010 GT keeps the unfinished production model's front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive layout, Honda's engineers ditched the V10 powerplant in favor of a naturally-aspirated 3.4-liter V8 unit that churns out more than 500-horsepower and over 392Nm or 289 lb-ft of peak torque.

Honda says that the blacked-out racing model tips the scales at a little over 1,100 kg or about 2,425 pounds and features a double wishbone suspension all around, steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters for the transmission and a rack and pinion system with electric power steering.

Honda HSV-010 GT Spec Sheet

Specifications and performance characteristics

Length x Width x Height (m): 4.675 x 2.000 x (not disclosed)

Wheelbase (m): 2.700

Vehicle weight (kg): 1,100 or more

Engine name: HR10EG

Configuration: Liquid-cooled, naturally aspirated, longitudinal V8

V angle (°): 90

Valve train: Gear-driven DOHC: 2 intake and 2 exhaust valves per cylinder

Displacement (cm3): 3,397

Bore x stroke (mm): 93.0 x 62.5

Compression ratio: (Not disclosed)