Friday, August 26, 2016

Acura/Honda NSX NC1

Dubbed as one of the most anticipated models in the late 2010s, the legendary sportscar that made a mark in the history of Honda or Acura, after a ten-year absence, has been resurrected and the new-generation NSX is now ready to take on the world's finest sportscars with its unparalleled performance that will raise some eyebrows among speedo boys everywhere, although I'm not quite sure about the NSX's rebirth in any way that gave me some jitters.

2017 Honda NSX
2017 Acura NSX

Sticking true to the concepts, the all-new NSX features a striking design that makes it a perfect fit for a sportscar revived after a 10-year hiatus. It's like reviving a once-famous fantasy show that became a hit ten years ago and as a result, all the elements that made the new NSX one of the most anticipated sports cars in the late 2010s come full circle. One look and you'll know that the new NSX is ready to rewrite the hybrid history books even for a fact that this is actually a hybrid engine-wielding masterpiece that incorporates the knowhow of Honda's motorsport pedigree with a bit of Gran Turismo flair on it ever since its concept version got featured in Gran Turismo 6 three years ago, although unsure if or when this production-version NSX will make it to the upcoming Gran Turismo Sport game, but whatever it is, the new NSX's ties to the Gran Turismo video game will make me condemned that this is a serious hybrid sportscar for those who had enough of driving the hybrid hypercar trio or anything else.

As a hybrid engine-wielding supercar, the all-new NSX features a bold new powertrain that was inspired in most models from its stable. Take this, Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, for instance, the Legend/RLX has one but this is a different powertrain for the NSX rebirth because at the heart of it all lies a 3.5L V6 DOHC Twin Turbo engine bolted to three electric motors that take care of the Power Drive Unit and a li-ion battery that takes charge on the Intelligent Power Unit. With such power sources, the new NSX delivers an overall power output of 581PS, more than the recently-facelifted Nissan GT-R had, and it's mated to a 9-speed DCT built exclusively for the NSX. Nine gears in a hybrid sportscar? With such gears, it's starting to feel like a Fast and Furious gearbox, minus the dramatic shifting part that you saw from those flicks, you know what I mean?

Aside from its performance, the new NSX is made to be aerodynamic thanks to a clever feature that produces more downforce while retaining its sharp styling. As for the body, it was made entirely from aluminum, carbon fiber, and high-strength steel, to make it more rigid and light on the corners. 

Because this is a hybrid equivalent of the Audi R8, the new NSX takes things seriously through the corners with a precision that keeps this sportscar afloat, no matter how messy things are, and because this is a four-wheel drive car, just like a Nissan GT-R, the NSX is an ideal all-weather multirole that can take on various road conditions, be it dry, wet, or freezing, and whereas most supercars getting scared on a slippery-when-wet condition, the NSX is not afraid to feel the slip and with such dynamics, the NSX feels like a this is a take-on-all-comers on the supercar empire.

2017 Honda NSX interior
2017 Acura NSX interior
As a handcrafted sports car made by the finest materials forged by the artisanship of experts at the Performance Manufacturing Center in an American state considered a battleground for the two rivals who really run this world in a very dangerous game, the NSX is a delicate item for a prized collector who really values this car more than anything else and because of its handcrafted status, let me give you a tip...

In the US, the NSX will set you about $156,000, but here in Japan, because they consider it as an import from American soil, they will set you up for a mega-expensive 23,700,000 Yen, making it the most expensive Japanese car ever sold in Japan. It's about more pricey than the Nissan GT-R if you asked them regarding the car that can return up to 12.4kmpl of fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards. Also, selected Honda dealers across Japan, labeled as NSX Performance Dealers, will start accepting reservations and deliveries take place in the February of next year. That's a lot of time, but if I may disregard the mega-high price tag, the new NSX is going to be a flip-flop for me apart from its Gran Turismo ties that set me off. The performance is great for me but when it comes to gaining ties to this car, this will be a challenge because while some are getting jealous on wishing to get their hands on the NSX rebirth, there are a few who are opposed to it due to its ties with Gran Turismo. This should sound like a decent challenge for the hybrid sportscar masterpiece.

Photo: Honda/Acura

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