2014 Acura NSX Concept at Detroit Auto Show

A year after they unveiled the hybrid NSX at the 2012 Detroit Auto show, Acura returned to show a revised version of the mid-engine sports car. The company’s return confirms their commitment to producing the first NSX since production stopped on the original in 2005.

The exterior of the Acura hasn’t changed all that much over the course of the past 12 months, but the car shown at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show has a larger grille and a 3D version of the brand’s ‘shield’ logo on the bonnet. The front bumper has been altered to aidaerodynamic efficiency and a carbon fibre splitter has been added. New wheels and a few minor alterations to the bodywork also distinguish this year’s model.

The interior has been dramatically altered from the sparse cabin we saw last year. It’s closer to the spec we will see when the car reaches production. The full leather interior with carbon fibre lined centre console and suede trim will make this a comfortable place to sit. The layout offers great visibility for the low ride height and there are very few buttons to press to control the car as everything goes through the “Simple Sports Interface”.

Reports on a New Zealand website suggest that a right-hand drive version could be built. The car’s chief designer, Jon Ikeda said “I’m sure it will be sold in right-hand-drive markets - it’s a global car, that’s what we’re trying to do,” so there’s hope that the stunning revival of the NSX will make its way across the pond at some point, but probably only after it’s been rebranded as a Honda.

Read More

Acura NSX: short official video surfaces

Acura - the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda - has released a very short video of the much-anticipated NSX that can actually be considered the first official clip starring the new model. The car we can see here is based on the concept version we appreciated at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, but it’s actually a pre-production prototype that will be on display at the Mid-Ohio Indy 200race on August 4th. It actually makes perfect sense since the new NSX will be built at the Acura’s Performance Manufacturing Center, in Ohio.

We don’t know whether this new prototype comes with some modification to the hybrid powertrain we got to know at the NAIAS in January: that version was powered by a mid-mounted, direct-injected V6 engine mated to Honda’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system and two electric motors driving the front wheels independently (as well as another unit integrated into the dual-clutch transmission), but we would be pretty surprised if Honda decided to change that.

As previously announced, the next-generation NSX is being developed by a global R&D team led by designers and engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. located in Los Angeles, California, and Raymond, Ohio. The final production version is expected to see the light of the day at some point in 2015.

Read More