New Technical Details of the Next Generation Acura NSX Revealed at SAE 2015 World Congress and Exhibition

NSX Power Unit Layout

The NSX features an all-new power unit from a clean sheet design with a longitudinally-mounted twin-turbo V6 engine mated to an all-new 9-speed DCT.

NSX Total Airflow Management, Powertrain & Heat Exchangers

The NSX utilizes a revolutionary total airflow management system that supports component cooling and aerodynamic performance while also contributing to even more dynamic styling.

Apr 23, 2015 - DETROIT

• New information disclosed on innovative powertrain, body and manufacturing technologies further solidifies the NSX's position as a world-class supercar
• NSX legacy of innovative, lightweight body design for high performance is advanced with world's first automotive application of ablation casting
• Total airflow management design strategy employed to achieve world-class supercar performance

In advance of the market launch of the highly anticipated next generation Acura NSX, the engineers leading the supercar's development shared new technical details and design strategies with the automotive engineering community at the April 22nd SAE Detroit Section dinner, held in conjunction with the SAE 2015 World Congress and Exhibition. Additional information about the team's efforts to achieve a true "New Sports Experience" included details of the NSX's world's first body construction process that helped create a multi-material space frame resulting in class-leading body rigidity, the advanced total airflow management system and an update on NSX's power unit specifications.
Ted Klaus, chief engineer and global development leader of the new NSX, introduced key powertrain, body and dynamic performance engineers who shared new product and technical details in their related areas of the development. The unprecedented sharing of technical details prior to the car's market introduction reflects the desire of the NSX development team and the company to inspire the imagination of automotive and technology enthusiasts along with the next generation of engineers.
"Our goal is to create something altogether new and exciting, something that advances the concept of a next generation supercar in the spirit of the original NSX," said Klaus. "In order to provide NSX-level value, we needed to push ourselves to experiment with, refine and then realize many new technologies."
Significant technical revelations concerning the NSX included:

• The NSX includes Acura's first use of a revolutionary multi-material space frame design that delivers class-leading body rigidity while remaining lightweight.
• World's first automotive application of new ablation casting¹ technology resulting in world-class body rigidity for ultimate handling and control.
• World's first use of a three-dimensionally formed, ultra-high-strength steel A-pillar, supporting class-leading rigidity and crash performance while providing outstanding outward visibility.
• The NSX achieves top-in-class aerodynamics targets without the use of active aerodynamic elements, while its three-motor Sport Hybrid power unit is cooled through 10 heat exchangers all thanks to a total airflow management strategy that maximizes the flow of air around and through NSX.
• Displacement of the NSX's all-new twin turbo V-6 engine was confirmed to be 3.5-liters.
• The NSX will mark the introduction of the most capable and highest torque capacity Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system in Acura history.
• The latest proprietary logic advances Acura's two decades-long pursuit of Super Handling that proactively responds to driver inputs, allowing the NSX to achieve a new level of line trace while at the same time intelligently supporting the driver in changing environments.

Additional details on each of these engineering achievements follow:
Multi-Material Body
Acura's First Application of a Multi-Material Body with Space Frame Construction
Developing the Most Rigid-in-Class, Multi-Material Body
At the core of the NSX mission to deliver timeless sports car values is an aluminum-intensive, multi-material space frame. This innovative space frame represents a next-generation leap in body design with class-leading technology that is exclusive to Acura within the automotive market. Based on internal data, the all-new Acura NSX multi-material body is by far the most rigid in its competitive set.
While the all-aluminum monocoque body of the original NSX was ahead of its time, current aluminum and ultra-high-strength steel-intensive body architecture has been taken to the limit for supercar design.
"For this new NSX development, anything and everything that could offer incredible base rigidity and lightweight design was on the table," said Shawn Tarr, principal engineer and Acura NSX body development leader. "We considered all-aluminum unibody, carbon fiber monocoque and space frame designs and ultimately engineered a multi-material space frame because it offers the lowest weight and best rigidity, precision and hybrid powertrain packaging capability of any design."
A key advancement in casting technology allowed the NSX development team to realize a quantum leap in body design, for the first time being able to engineer a vehicle with castings in key locations for rigidity, that also support the ductility necessary for placement within crush zones.
World's First Application of Ablation Casting
The Acura NSX heralds the world's first application of ablation casting technology in the automotive industry. Ablation casting combines traditional casting methods with rapid cooling techniques to offer the design flexibility and rigidity of casting with the ductility and energy absorption characteristics of extruded material.
Traditional castings provide the ultimate rigidity in space frame and other body designs, but have traditionally suffered a major drawback: traditional castings are brittle. With the no-compromise performance goals of the NSX, a groundbreaking new casting method within the crush zones had to be used.

• The ablation process allows the ultra-rigid castings to be located within the crush zones and to function as large aluminum nodes, or junction points. Aluminum extrusions are then inserted into sockets in the ablation cast nodes, which act as fixtures that hold the space frame in place during welding.
• During the welding process, shorter stitch welds can be applied, enhancing the exceptional, repeatable precision of the NSX space frame construction by reducing heat deformation during the production process.
• Ablation castings also enable traditional aluminum castings to be used at strategic locations in the space frame and as the primary mounting points for suspension and power unit components, in addition to being the reference and temporary attachment points during the highly accurate space frame construction process.
• Full space frame construction and vehicle assembly are conducted on-site at the new Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, OH, providing a high level of quality control.

New A-Pillar Construction Technique
In addition to the world's first casting technology, the NSX applies an all-new three-dimensionally formed ultra-high-strength steel A-pillar that provides next-generation rigidity and precise shape specification tolerances.
The previous generation NSX had a thin A-pillar that provided very good outward visibility. Reflecting this heritage with modern rigidity and roof crush performance requirements demanded this new, ultra-high-strength production method.
Advanced Materials Strategy
NSX represents an advanced expression of modern body design theory: the strategic integration of multiple materials to achieve optimal body performance for numerous targets, including rigidity, dynamic response, superior fit-and-finish and occupant protection.

• The aluminum-intensive space frame is complimented with precisely crafted ultra-high-strength steel and anchored with a carbon fiber floor together producing body performance at its peak.
• For the new NSX, the body design and technologies are about more than just raw performance – a goal of any supercar development.  In keeping with the human-centered supercar concept, the NSX development team went further, to optimize how the car's performance capabilities are experienced by the driver through the body.
• Drivers will experience all of the on-the-rails handling provided by the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD power unit because it is communicated in high-fidelity through the most rigid body in its class.

Total Airflow Management
Engineering a Next Generation Thermal and Aerodynamic Package via Total Airflow Management
To meet the challenge of the ambitious performance targets, radical packaging design and exotic styling for the next generation Acura NSX, the development team had to totally re-imagine the thermal and aerodynamic engineering for this modern supercar so that maximum energy is extracted from the flow of air around and through the NSX with the highest efficiency.
This new total airflow management strategy supports component cooling, aerodynamic performance (drag and downforce) at a very high level without the use of active aero technology, while also contributing to even more dynamic styling.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used extensively during development to allow the U.S.-based development team to maximize the performance of a power unit being developed in Japan. CFD models were run on computers totaling many years' worth of computational uptime.
Thermal CFD was effectively used in two ways during development: first, for the proof-of-concept in establishing heat management strategy at the earliest development stage and second, for continuous thermal performance improvement as the vehicle matured through development. Extensive involvement of thermal CFD with design engineers during the development enabled maximum design optimization.
Along with the use of advanced CFD, wind tunnel and real world testing, the development team also employed computerized lap-time simulation models of some of the world's most legendary proving grounds that could then be run on chassis-dynamometers allowing testing and validation of computer models for thermal management.

• The all-new NSX employs 10 air-cooled heat exchangers responsible for cooling the front twin-motor unit (TMU), twin-turbo V6 engine, rear direct-drive electric motor and 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT).
• The all new, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine at the heart of the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD power unit requires the greatest cooling and receives it through three radiators: one center and two side units to get maximum airflow volume and efficiency. The center radiator is tilted forward 25-degress, allowing the largest, optimized configuration that best utilizes the inherent pressure gradient while maintaining the strict low center of gravity targets of the NSX's Advance Sports Package.
• Condenser and power drive unit (PDU) coolers are efficiently packaged in front of the center engine radiator.
• The TMU is cooled passively through strategic use of air in the front motor room and by a heat exchanger mounted in front of the right engine sub-radiator.
• The 9-speed DCT is cooled by two heat exchangers, one mounted in front of the left engine sub-radiator and the other in the engine compartment.
• Twin-intercoolers located in the signature side intakes are used to cool the intake air charge.

Supercar Aerodynamics
NSX achieves top-class aerodynamic balance and supercar aerodynamic downforce without the use of active aero. Aerodynamic drag is minimized, even while moving large airflows through NSX as it inhales and exhales. Aerodynamic downforce is created through the total airflow management focus on utilizing airflow through each vent, as NSX exhales, and through more traditional aerodynamic shape optimization.
NSX has undergone extensive testing at the company's state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Raymond, Ohio, using ultra-detailed 40-percent-scale models that replicate all of the intake and exhaust vents, heat exchangers and major under-hood components. These highly accurate scale models replicate drag and lift performance with near perfect approximation. It has been verified and put through its paces at the company's full-scale wind tunnel in Japan, and on real and simulated proving grounds throughout the world.
Total airflow management vents and precision ducting also help create strong, consistent downforce for NSX and were tuned to optimized forms with aerodynamicist and designer input during working wind tunnel sessions.

• Six vortices flow at the rear of the NSX including those that support creating the highest downforce across the rear deck lid.
• Flowing from below the car and exiting through meticulously optimized lower, rear diffuser fins is a critical vortex that further anchors NSX to the ground. Uniquely, the fins are not parallel to each other, but are narrower toward the front of the car and wider at the rear. This design creates low pressure and further maximizes downforce.

Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive
A new handling paradigm decades in the making
The groundbreaking Sport Hybrid SH-AWD dynamic torque vectoring technology applied to this all-new NSX represents research and development that has been ongoing for well over two decades.
Next-generation torque vectoring
Acura has been continuously refining its advanced torque vectoring technology while in parallel developing new ways of accomplishing the timeless sports car values of lightweight, rigid chassis and potent powerplants. This all-new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD represents a system injected with more electric power, delivered more directly, managing more internal combustion power than any system Acura has engineered to date.
In keeping with the development team's 'human-centered supercar' concept, the new NSX and its Sport Hybrid Super Handling drivetrain were truly engineered from the driver out. While the NSX provides a new sports experience with 'on rails handling,' its Super Handling technology was optimized to enhance the driving experience by responding instantaneously and intuitively to the will of the driver.

• Super Handling is brought to its pinnacle form in NSX where the strengths of electric motors –delivering zero delay acceleration – allows the NSX to offer dynamic torque vectoring even at low vehicle and engine speeds.
• Super Handling logic has progressed along a parallel path with hardware. While many advanced automotive technologies are focused on feedback, measurements of how the vehicle is reacting, NSX uniquely applies additional technology to focus on accurately responding to driver input through immediate, precise application of torque at each wheel at any moment.
• Using cutting edge computer-aided engineering (CAE) optimization software, engineers created a double-wishbone, double lower control arm front suspension that decouples the twin-motor unit (TMU) torque from the driver's experience at the steering wheel, providing timeless sports car steering communication to the driver with a new experience of on rails handling provided by the precise torque vectoring of the TMU.
• Variable gear ratio steering is applied to further enhance the confident, race-ready driving dynamics of the all-new NSX.

Powertrain
Sport-Hybrid SH-AWD Power Unit
Powering the Sport Hybrid Power Unit with Racing Technologies
As announced at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, the new NSX will utilize an all-new power unit from a clean sheet design. At its heart is an all-new longitudinally mounted twin-turbo V6 engine that is mated to an all-new, Acura-developed 9-speed DCT with an electric motor that applies its torque directly to the crankshaft for higher output with immediate power delivery to the rear wheels.

• The new engine has a displacement of 3.5-liters and utilizes pinnacle racing technology, applying both direct and port injection to its design.
• The 75-degree V-angle and dry sump design optimizes engine rigidity and further supports the NSX's Advanced Sports Package by allowing the engine and components to be lowered in the chassis to the maximum extent, resulting in the lowest center of gravity in its class. This also supports the advanced packaging of other engine components. 
• The engine's dry sump design also helps maximize vehicle performance in high lateral-G conditions.
• The rear direct-drive electric motor applies its torque directly to the crankshaft.
• The 9-speed DCT's main, counter, secondary and output shaft design maximizes the advanced sports package through a configuration that lowers weight and helps to center the mass nearer the driver.

About NSX
The all-new Acura NSX represents the convergence of timeless sports car values and advanced technology in a pinnacle supercar. Timeless sports car values include classic goals like a rigid and light chassis with the mass placed low and close to the driver. Advanced technologies include those that enhance the driving experience in new ways.
To bring back the legendary NSX the global development team has innovated in the critical, timeless areas of frame and aerodynamics in addition to tirelessly refining its key advanced technology - the state-of-the-art hybrid power unit. The NSX has many innovative components, but the basic recipe is simple: timeless sports car values blended perfectly with advanced technologies that deliver a new sports experience.
About Acura
Acura offers a full line of precision crafted performance-luxury vehicles through a network of approximately 270 U.S. dealers. The Acura lineup features five distinctive models – the RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America's all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV. The next-generation Acura NSX mid-engine supercar will join the Acura lineup later this year. Acura was recently recognized by Edmunds.com for the third consecutive year as leading all luxury brands in retained value after five years of ownership.
For More Information
Additional media information including detailed features, pricing and high-resolution photography of the Acura model line is available at acuranews.com. Consumer information about Acura is available at acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/Acura.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/new-technical-details-of-the-next-generation-acura-nsx-revealed-at-sae-2015-world-congress-and-exhibition

HONDA NSX SUPERCAR MAKES EUROPEAN DEBUT (that's right, Honda NSX....)

• All-new model delivers a ground-breaking ‘New Sports eXperience’
• Designed from a clean-sheet with an ‘Interwoven Dynamic’ exterior design and uncompromising focus on driver control, visibility and packaging inside
• New all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain is the most technologically-advanced in the supercar segment
• Innovative multi-material space frame delivers high rigidity and light weight
• Sophisticated dynamic set up allied to advanced technologies deliver unmatched handling, stability and chassis response
• Twenty-five years after the debut of the original, paradigm-shifting NSX supercar, the production version of its highly anticipated successor makes its European debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. 

European customer deliveries of the new mid-engine sports hybrid NSX supercar are due to begin in early 2016. Specifically created to bring a “New Sports eXperience” to the supercar segment, the NSX challenges prevailing beliefs about supercars as much as the first generation did a quarter of a century ago.
The 2015 Honda NSX is powered by an all-new power unit – a twin-turbocharged 75-degree DOHC V6 engine coupled to a nine-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and three electric motors. This Sport Hybrid technology is housed within an ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material chassis that features world-first material applications and manufacturing processes. As a ‘human-centred supercar’ that puts the driver first in every aspect of its design, the next-generation NSX will deliver exceptionally intuitive and immediate response to driver inputs thanks to its state-of-the-art hybrid supercar power unit, body and chassis.
As the ultimate representation of Honda performance and prestige, the NSX was developed under the theme of ‘Precision Crafted Performance’. The development of the 2015 Honda NSX started from a clean-sheet and involved nearly three years of intensive development effort by a global design and engineering team led by engineers at Honda’s development centre in Raymond, Ohio.

Interwoven Dynamic design
The exterior of the new Honda NSX represents superlative attention to balancing exotic sports car form and supercar function. The development team refer to the result as ‘Interwoven Dynamic’ design.
The body features classic low and wide proportions, sharply contoured surfaces, an aggressive front design, and tail lights that pay homage to the original NSX.
The signature side intake and floating C-pillar collects air to feed the mid-mounted engine and directs airflow over the rear deck to increase downforce. To accommodate the new longitudinally mounted engine and transmission the production vehicle was lengthened by 79 mm and widened by 25 mm compared with the NSX Concept first shown in 2013, resulting in a slightly more cab-forward package
Every element of the exterior body design has been carefully fashioned for total airflow management, both for stability-enhancing downforce and vehicle systems cooling. The NSX has undergone extensive testing at the company’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Raymond, Ohio, leading to a number of significant changes from concept to final body design. These include modified bonnet vents, new front wing vents, modified side air intakes, and an optimised rear spoiler.

Driver-centred cockpit design
Consistent with the ‘human-centred supercar’ development concept, the NSX was designed from the inside out with an uncompromising focus on the driver. Staying true to the legendary original NSX, the newcomer’s ‘Human Support Cockpit’ provides exceptional driver control, visibility and packaging. While the principal endures from the original NSX, the technologies and techniques employed to achieve the objective in the all-new model have advanced immeasurably in order to meet the extreme performance expectations of a modern supercar.
The NSX interior boasts exceptional forward visibility, simple and intuitive controls, and class-leading ergonomics. For example, the front seats feature top-class holding performance with outstanding comfort and easy access for the driver and passenger.
The NSX’s instrument cluster features a dynamic TFT screen that displays various categories of vehicle data and settings according to the selection made by the driver via the Integrated Dynamics System dial control on the centre console. As it controls this powerful driver information hub, it seems entirely appropriate that the Power button that readies the sport hybrid powertrain is located in the centre of the dial.
Interwoven under the handcrafted leather dash panel is the exposed mid-frame – a functioning chassis structural member that reflects the design aesthetic of a naked sport bike. An ultra-thin, yet super strong A-pillar design and low-mounted instrument panel minimise obstructions to the driver’s view of the road.

Sport Hybrid Power Unit
In keeping with the single overriding philosophy of the original NSX, the next-generation NSX is designed to provide a new sports car experience that maximises the capabilities of the driver, delivering exceptionally intuitive and confidence-inspiring response.
Honda engineers have taken advantage of the company’s expertise across several advanced drivetrain and chassis dynamic technologies to create the most sophisticated, technologically advanced and intelligent powertrain in the supercar segment. Specifically, the development team drew on its advanced engineering capabilities with high-performance engines and hybrid electric-drive technologies, as well as two decades of experience with industry-leading dynamic torque-vectoring technologies, including Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD).
At the heart of the NSX’s performance capabilities is an all-new mid-mounted, 75-degree, DOHC V6 engine with twin turbochargers mated to a specially-developed nine-speed DCT.
The V6 engine employs a race-inspired compact valve train and dry sump lubrication system to help lower the centre of gravity. The all-new nine-speed DCT delivers synapse-quick gear changes and rev-matching downshifts.
The rear direct-drive electric motor, housed between the engine and transmission, supports acceleration, braking and transmission shifting performance. The NSX’s front wheels are driven by twin independent high-output electric motors which deliver instantaneous torque response and dynamic left-to-right torque distribution.
The NSX uses its front electric motors for dynamic torque vectoring in addition to enhancing acceleration and braking performance. The result is instantaneous launch performance and handling response that seems to anticipate the driver’s desire. The NSX has undergone extensive testing at some of the world’s most challenging race circuits, including the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Advanced Multi-Material Body
Also in keeping with the legacy of the original NSX – the world’s first all-aluminium supercar – the new NSX features an innovative new multi-material body design with world-first material applications and construction processes.
The NSX body utilises a space-frame design – an internal frame constructed of aluminium, ultra-high strength steel and other advanced materials. Anchored by a carbon fibre floor, torsional and bending forces are taken up entirely by this ultra-rigid structure which also utilises advanced joining technologies
The NSX features world-first casting technology that combines the design and manufacturing flexibility of a casting process with the strength and elongation properties of a forged material, enabling significant weight reduction. The body panels are composed of a combination of aluminium and sheet moulding composite (SMC).

Advanced Sport Package for astonishing dynamic performance
The NSX features an ’Advanced Sports Package’ with placement of major powertrain components – the mid-mounted engine, twin front motors and Sport Hybrid battery pack and power control unit – optimised to concentrate vehicle mass low and toward the centre of the vehicle, to further enhance balance and dynamic response. The combination of this packaging concept and the lightweight body gives the NSX the lowest centre of gravity in its class.
The NSX utilises a fully independent, all-aluminium front and rear suspension and its considerable power hits the tarmac through ContiSportContact™ high-performance tyres – 245/35Z R19 at the front and 295/30Z R20 at the rear – mounted on 19 x 8.5 inch front and 20 x 11 inch rear aluminium alloy wheels.
Powerful, natural and confident braking performance is provided by six-piston front and four-piston rear monoblock calipers squeezing ultra-high performance carbon-ceramic brake discs.
Handling is greatly enhanced by Honda-engineered Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All Wheel Drive (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD), enabling lightning-quick response to all driver inputs – steering, braking and throttle – along with the stability, control and launch performance of all-wheel drive. Agile Handling Assist (AHA) uses the subtle application of brake torque to further enhance and dynamic stability.
The NSX’s dial-operated Integrated Dynamic System features Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track modes. The system adjusts engine, motor, transmission and chassis response, as well as the engine sound level, based on the needs of the driver and driving environment. Quiet mode enables electric-only driving at lower speeds for short durations. Dynamic vehicle responses become increasingly sharp as the driver moves from Sport to Sport+ mode and, finally, to Track mode, where the NSX reveals the full spectrum of its performance capabilities.
The NSX also features a ‘launch’ function to achieve the ultimate acceleration from standstill, aided by both the engine and the three electric motors.

New Production Facility
The NSX will be manufactured exclusively at the Performance Manufacturing Centre (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, where approximately 100 highly-skilled low-volume production specialists will conduct full body construction, paint, and final assembly.
The PMC and its processes have been developed to perfectly blend craftsmanship and technology in a new approach to manufacturing. By undertaking the body construction in-house, Honda maintains complete control over total body quality, including critical strength, suspension accuracy, and fit and finish, from initial construction all the way to final assembly.
PMC’s production team will employ innovative techniques to deliver next-generation craftsmanship and world-class quality in the realm of specialised, supercar vehicle production.

Source;
http://hondanews.eu/eu/en/cars/media/pressreleases/43977/honda-nsx-supercar-makes-european-debut

CarBUZZ: Acura Already Planning A More Hardcore NSX Type R

Well that certainly didn't take long.

Only now is the 2015 Detroit Auto Show opening its doors to the public after two media days, and already we’re hearing that Acura is planning a more hardcore NSX. It’s basically going to receive the Type R treatment. The new NSX’s chief engineer confirmed this at Detroit and really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. For those who recall, an R version of the original NSX came out two years after the initial debut. To cut back on some poundage, Acura removed the air conditioning and stereo and added forged alloy wheels.

 

So what will Acura do this time around for the more potent second-gen NSX Type R? Too early to know, but it’s fair to speculate that various carbon-fiber components will play a significant role. Additional power will likely be found from the twin-turbocharged V6-three electric motor combo. But in today’s world the A/C and stereo will likely remain.

Source;

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2015/1/14/Acura-Already-Planning-A-More-Hardcore-NSX-Type-R-7724839/

Honda Press Event - 2015 North American International Auto Show Show Remarks

John Mendel, Executive Vice President, Automobile Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

John Mendel:
Hello everyone. And thank you for joining Honda this morning. I know there are a few press conferences still to come, but we are pleased to bring down the curtain on the OEM side of the 2015 North American International Auto Show.

Over the past day and a half you've probably attended more than 25 press events here in Cobo Center, but not one has showcased the diverse array of advanced products you see here on the Honda Stage this morning.

These products and many more still to come are why we're calling 2015 "The Year of Honda." Over the next 12-18 months, you're going to see multiple big Honda dreams come true, the new Acura supercar you saw yesterday, a next-generation Honda fuel cell vehicle, an incredibly innovative business jet and our return to Formula One racing. No other automaker in the world has the depth of R&D know-how and experience to take on all of these challenges, let alone bring them to market.

These are all-new products and technologies for our customers and for the future of mobility everywhere, innovations that are truly something only Honda can deliver. As you can see here, and across the aisle, we're bringing to life our mantra, "The Power of Dreams", in very real and compelling ways.

Our springboard is the incredible momentum we created in 2014, with all-time record sales for the Honda brand.  In addition to selling the most Honda vehicles in the 45 years since we began automobile sales in America, what makes it especially satisfying is that we continue to do it the Honda way. That means without compromising our commitment to our customers.

The record number of customer relationships we created last year was based almost exclusively on sales to individual buyers, earned one customer and one vehicle at a time. Accord, again, was the most popular car in America with retail car buyers. Civic, again, was the best-selling compact car with retail buyers. And CR-V, again, was the outright best-selling SUV in America; in fact, it's been the best-selling SUV in America for the past decade.

For the second straight year, these three models topped over a million units in sales. And, full-size trucks notwithstanding, this is another achievement that only Honda has accomplished.

But when we talk about "Only Honda" and The Power of Dreams in 2015, we're talking the fulfillment of some really big dreams. We're tapping into the roots of Honda's passion for innovation in mobility powered by a technological tour-de-force unrivaled in the global auto industry.

We can start with the all-new NSX, and while you heard plenty about this new supercar yesterday, the NSX demonstrates our passion for engineering expertise and broad based experience in powertrain innovation, hybrid systems, super-handling technology and advanced body construction, just to name a few.

And today, we showcase these very same strengths, but in a different type of advanced technology vehicle, the Honda FCV Concept. Making its North American debut, this fuel cell vehicle represents Honda's more than 25 years of expertise in the development of fuel cell technology.

The new, more compact Honda fuel cell stack fits completely within the front engine compartment. This is a significant achievement for the future application of fuel-cell technology in our industry. The new stack provides a 60 percent boost in power and a 33 percent reduction in size.

As a result, the FCV Concept delivers even greater passenger space than its predecessor, including seating for up to five.

Moreover, the FCV Concept has a driving range of more than 300 miles and an anticipated refueling time of approximately 3 minutes at a pressure of 70 MPa, which is significantly faster than battery recharging.

We all know that infrastructure is a major concern. So, we also recently invested nearly $14 million dollars in First Element Fuel to further accelerate the network of public hydrogen refueling stations in California. This commitment adds considerable momentum to the future infrastructure for fuel cell vehicles.

Importantly, the FCV Concept we will launch in 2016 serves as the first of an entire new generation of Honda's future advanced technology vehicles. And today in Detroit, we're announcing that we will introduce an all-new battery electric model, and an all-new plug-in hybrid model by 2018.

Together, these vehicles will help create a new volume sales pillar by meeting a variety of customer needs for mobility.

So, while the FCV Concept and NSX may be at opposite ends of the technology spectrum, they're both emblematic of our passion for technology and innovation that benefits the customer and society.

This same challenging spirit and passion will be expressed in another Honda dream that has been decades in the making, and that will literally take Honda power to the skies. This year, Honda Aircraft Company will begin customer deliveries of the highly anticipated HondaJet, seen here in quarter-scale.

A pure expression of our commitment to innovation in human mobility, the most significant of HondaJet's many breakthroughs is the unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount configuration. Engineered and proven by Honda after more than 20 years of extensive research and development, this design helps make HondaJet the fastest, highest flying, and most fuel-efficient aircraft in its class.

And don't let this scale model version fool you. It's not a concept, it's just that while there have been longhorns on Jefferson Avenue, we couldn't land the plane there. The fact is we're already mass-producing HondaJet, even as we enter the final phase of FAA approval.

Sixty-six years ago Honda's first motorbike was powered by a half-horsepower 50cc engine. The HondaJet is equipped with the most powerful engine Honda has ever produced, the Honda-designed GE Honda HF120 turbofan, rated in excess of 2,000 pounds of thrust.

And since we're here at the Detroit Auto Show, I'll point out that the HondaJet is likely the first business aircraft to fully utilize automobile interior design processes, improving quality and efficiency in mass production.

And, like 98-percent of our automotive products, both the HondaJet and its turbofan engine are built in North America; in fact, both are built in the birthplace of human flight, North Carolina.

Now, if innovation is the heart of Honda, racing is its soul. And 2015 will see one more major dream realized, and an expression of the Honda Racing Spirit with our return to Formula One racing.

On stage today is a fully operational, exact replica of the F1 car Richie Ginther drove to Honda's first 1st Grand Prix victory in 1965. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary year of that first F1 checkered flag, a win that occurred in North America, in the Mexican Grand Prix. Now, in that video, it was long-time Honda IndyCar driver and 3-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti behind the wheel. And Dario is with us here today. Thanks Dario, for all you do to advance Honda's Racing Spirit, and for remaining a true friend of Honda.
In the upcoming 4th era of Honda's F1 history, McLaren and Honda have reignited a partnership that earned an incredible eight world championships, including the most dominating single season performance in F1 history.

We have a couple of great drivers and proven champions as part of the McLaren Honda team in Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, and we will compete to win in this inaugural season.

Honda broke new ground in the 1980s by creating a turbocharged engine that was unparalleled in both output and efficiency. F1 engines have been downsized to 1.6 liters and paired with energy recovery systems, similar to those on conventional hybrid and electric cars.

Honda engineers are leveraging our considerable experience with electric drive and energy recovery systems in our production vehicles to develop this F1 power unit. And in the future, the technologies developed through F1 will be fed back to production cars.

Let's not forget motorcycle, MotoGP is the world's top racing series. And Honda won consecutive championships in 2013 and 2014 with the Honda RC213V ridden by Marc Marquez who dominated MotoGP last season winning 13 of 18 races. Last year, Marquez introduced an incredible prototype street version of the RC213V championship machine at the Milano Motorcycle show. It's another example of a Honda dream come true, and this RC213V-S Prototype is set to become the ultimate street bike.

To those of you not attuned to MotoGP racing, that would be like a street legal F1 car.

So, what do all of these new Honda dreams have to do with our automobile business? It's about spirit, the spirit of innovation that's powering a strong cadence of innovative products heading your way in the coming months, with the revitalization of our light truck lineup, a major expansion of alternative powertrain vehicle sales, and the further growth of our small car lineup.

This includes the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V crossover this spring, a new benchmark in a growing segment. Shortly after, we'll introduce an all-new Pilot SUV that will redefine what is possible with an 8-passenger mid-size SUV. And further ahead, a completely reengineered Ridgeline pickup. And we have some more excitement on the passenger car side of our lineup this year as well. So, watch this space.

All this happens as we continue to rollout our new generation of powertrains that are developed and manufactured here in North America. And again, today, we're announcing our first application of the new Honda VTEC® turbo 4-cylinder engines, and that they will be made at our Anna Engine Plant in Ohio.

We will also expand application of our 2- and 3-motor hybrid systems. It is all of these new products and powertrains that will serve to strengthen our competitiveness in key growth areas.

All of these new products and technologies are among the reasons we're calling 2015 the "Year of Honda." It's going to be an exciting and groundbreaking year. And we're targeting not just a record year for the Honda brand, but an all-time mark for total American Honda sales, all accomplished while maintaining our focus on individual buyers. And we look forward to having you along for the ride.

And speaking of rides, we're going to close out with one more technology that only Honda could create. Developed as a personal mobility device that's compatible for use around people, this UNI-CUB features balance control and other technologies, which originate from Honda's robotics research.

These technologies allow the rider to move forward, backward, side-to-side and diagonally as freely as walking, simply by shifting body weight and leaning toward the intended direction.

While I currently exceed the GVW of this particular model, I've been assured they're working on a Mendel-sized version. But you might have seen this unique expression of Honda's robotics expertise in a music video released several months ago by the rock group OK Go.

So, we thank you for joining us, we look forward to sharing this Year of Honda with all you, and now let's OK Go!

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-press-event-2015-north-american-international-auto-show-show-remarks

Acura NSX Production Teaser Video

WorldCarFans: Camouflaged Honda/Acura NSX prototype spied undergoing testing

To offer 458 performance for R8 price

A camouflaged prototype of the Honda/Acura NSX has been caught on camera testing near the Nürburgring in Germany.

We won't blame you if it's getting a bit boring to see the NSX revival still hiding underneath the camo taking into account the concept was unveiled almost three years ago and updated in January 2013 for NAIAS.

Spotted here is a prototype carrying the production body while undergoing final testing ahead of next year's programmed market release.

Promising to offer Ferrari 458 Italia performance for the price of an Audi R8, the second generation NSX will take the hybrid path by mixing up a twin-turbo V6 driving the rear axle with three electric motors powering the front wheels. Honda calls this hardware arrangement a Sport Hybrid Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) which also includes a newly developed dual-clutch gearbox incorporating one of the electric motors.

Production of the new Honda/Acura NSX will take place in Ohio at the Honda Performance Manufacturing Center and the model is scheduled to go on sale sometime next year.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/114102783383/camouflaged-hondaacura-nsx-prototype-spied-undergoing