Acura NSX prototype bursts into flames during testing (and with that, Acura officially reaches Supercar status....)

A prototype for Acura’s second-generation NSX supercar only started testing at the Nürburgring yesterday, but already the car has been destroyed.

The prototype caught fire during today's round of testing but fortunately the driver managed to pull over and jump out before the flames spread to the rest of the car.

Onlookers said the fire started at the rear before engulfing the rest.

The latest photos show the car as it is burning, a roaring fire completely enveloping the rear compartment before safety crews arrive to put out the flames.

The rear is where the car’s twin-turbocharged engine is located as well as its gearbox and one of its three electric motors.

It’s not clear what caused the fire but we do know the air intakes and vents on the latest prototype are larger than those on previous prototypes as well as the original concept from 2012, suggesting the design has required additional cooling.

Fortunately the fire occurred during testing, and we’re sure engineers will address the issue before production of the new NSX commences next year.

As previously reported, the new NSX will be going on sale sometime in 2015, as a 2016 model.

It will be badged an Acura for the American and Chinese markets and a Honda everywhere else.

Development of the new NSX is taking place primarily in the U.S. and production will be handled at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.

The drivetrain of the new NSX is a complex hybrid system consisting of a V-6, dual-clutch transmission, lithium-ion battery and three electric motors.

Two of the electric motors power the front wheels independently, while the third, integrated with the V-6 and dual-clutch transmission, helps power the rear wheels.

The system is Acura’s new Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive, and a tamer setup is featured in the 2014 RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.

Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1093473_2016-acura-nsx-burns-to-the-ground-during-ring-testing

Honda UK Taking Pre-Orders for NSX Supercar!

The second chapter in the book of the NSX is being written right now by Honda's R&D teams in Los Angeles, California, and Raymond and Ohio. However, because the first chapter had such cult following, people already want to be a part the next.

Honda UK just made a shock announcement, saying that it's opened a pre-order bank for the hotly anticipated supercar. All you have to do is sign your name on the dotted line and hand over a deposit of £5,000 ($7,650 or €5,850 at the current exchange rate) and you can be one of the first people to own one when deliveries start in 2015.

The news of a pre-order bank follows in the footsteps of the previous NSX which saw 25 pre-orders being taken a year ahead of its UK launch.

Unlike the old NSX, the futuristic car you are drooling over right now will be powered by an all-wheel drive hybrid drivetrain, centered around a mid-mounted, direct-injected V6 engine. It will also utilize a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system. This will even generate negative torque on one of the front wheels to improve cornering.

“We are really pleased with the interest we’ve already seen for the new NSX. We are still two years away from the launch of the car and yet we’ve received over 20 deposits and that’s before we’ve even announced prices or seen the final production car. With this process in place we are confident demand will remain strong and early hand raisers can now visit any Honda dealership in the UK and place a deposit,” Phil Crossman, Managing Director, Honda (UK), commented.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-uk-taking-pre-orders-for-nsx-supercar-58179.html

Honda NSX Production Version Leaks - Interior Revealed

Two images of what is reportedly the production version of the Honda/Acura NSX have surfaced online, via vwvortex.com. One shows the exterior of the car, and bears a Honda badge, while the other shows what looks to be a plausible interior for the NSX, wearing an Acura badge.

It is definitely not the interior of exactly the car in the other photo, as the badges don`t correspond, and the interior shot shows a left-hand drive car, while the exterior shows a right-hand drive example. If this is the production version, we are honestly hard-pressed to tell it from it is identical to the concept - it looks just as good and as modern as it does.

The shot of the leather-clad interior shows that the car will not be offered with a manual gearbox at all, as there would be no place for the gear selector, as it just looks like it would sit too high and would not be ergonomic and comfortable to use, especially in a supercar costing in excess of $100,000.

It is set to hit the market in 2014, as a 2015 model-year offering, and it both the Acura and Honda versions will be built in the US, at the Marysville, Ohio plant. The car is expected to have all-wheel drive and the integration of a hybrid system is also likely.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-nsx-production-version-leaks-53950.html

2015 Honda NSX to Become Non-Hybrid Racer

Automakers are trying to convince us they can make hybrid sportscars that are as economical as diesel econoboxes on tiny wheels, but still offer all the thrills. We’re not so convinced, because once you actually do want to get on the gas, that power, be it electric or fuel-based, has to come from something.

But Honda doesn’t seem to be going back on its word and is making the next NSX into an all-wheel drive hybrid.

The NSX has been off the radar for a number of years now, and the Japanese have to actually prove their car is worth our attention. And to do this they will unleash it onto the track.

But the racing version of the NSX might be a conventionally-powered, non-hybrid car, at least according to an AutoGuide report.

According to them Honda will race their sportscar in the American Grand Am series, which currently does not allow hybrids. However, a new class could be created soon, as Mazda has announced a diesel racer for next year.

What’s more, the NSX will race in Japan in the Super GT Series, which would also forbid a hybrid AWD car under current regulations.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2015-honda-nsx-to-become-non-hybrid-racer-47344.html

Inside Line: Driving The Avengers Acura NSX Roadster Video

Acura NSX Successor Taking Shape

Ahead-of-Its-Time Honda Dualnote Concept Provides Powertrain Clues
By Peter Lyon of www.motortrend.com

At Honda's recent shareholders' meeting in Tokyo, a middle-aged man stood up during the Q&A session and asked whether the company was going to reinterpret a small, sporty car like the Beat for the 21st century. "While I am still young enough to enjoy sports driving, I'd like to drive something compact and sporty, something like an updated Beat. What are the chances of that?" he said poignantly.

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito took the microphone and replied without hesitation. "We are currently developing a successor to the Beat, a car that anyone can easily have fun with. Expect to see it in showrooms within the next few years." The comment dominated the headlines the next day. Strangely, Ito's subsequent utterance didn't get nearly as much play, but potentially was much more significant to those pining away for a road-going Honda supercar: "In addition to the Beat successor, we are also making significant progress with plans for an exotic sports car."

Just six months ago, Ito told a media gathering that Honda felt compelled to re-launch a high-performance sports car like the NSX, but he didn't go so far as to say it was definitely happening. But it was the first time Ito had actually uttered the telling phrase "making significant progress with plans to..." build a successor.

To get a clearer idea of exactly what Honda has planned, a source close to Honda suggested we go back a decade and re-examine the Dualnote, a gasoline-hybrid, all-wheel-drive concept car first shown way back at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show. Powered by a midship-mounted (Japanese-speak for mid-engined) 3.5-liter V-6 with Honda's IMA hybrid system, the four-door concept's front wheels were propelled by in-wheel electric motors, while the rears were driven by the engine, a combination that reportedly generated more than 400 horsepower. The Dualnote was so advanced back then that all Honda did was adapt the drive system (minus the in-wheel electric motors) to the soon-to-be-launched Legend, thus creating the SH-AWD system.

Ten years down the track, Honda is still perfecting that original AWD hardware, which includes the large-capacity engine with hybrid combination, motors that propel the fronts, and V-6-driven rears. Another insider tells us the car's target specifications have already been decided. "Honda wants to build a supercar that breaks the mold while creating a totally new technological package," he said. So what we are going to see is a further development of that 2001 concept, but adapted for today's fuel economy and emissions expectations.

It's not a car that rests on its engine-generated power alone. The extra herbs produced by the front-mounted electric motors will make the next-generation NSX a very quick car. "It has to be fast to live up to the expectations of a future NSX, right!?" pleads our insider. He went onto say that a record Nurburgring lap time is not Honda's target. "But be rest assured, this car will be the top in its class, and the powerful engine-motor combination will achieve that result."

Our sources inform us that Honda is working on a VTEC V-6 engine displacing 3.5 to 3.7 liters that boasts a cylinder head with an integrated exhaust manifold and valveless throttle. Obviously it will be of the Atkinson cycle variety. The two-motor setup will be powered by lithium-ion batteries and employ a plug-in recharge system to minimize battery weight.

The original Dualnote system incorporated an engine that drove an on-board generator powering the motors, a system considered inherently inefficient. By fitting an all-new continuous current motor to the new concept, engineers have been able to minimize electricity consumption while at the same time creating a gutsy torque-generating, high-revving system. "This system will be the secret to the NSX successor's incredible pace," suggests our source.

One other critical aspect of the new car will be its weight-saving aluminum body, a process carried over from the first NSX. And the final part of the package is price. Our sources tell us that Honda wants to bring the car to the U.S. as an Acura by 2014 for under $100,000 -- a sticker price designed to rival that of the Nissan GT-R.

Source;
http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1110_acura_nsx_successor_taking_shape/

Honda NSX Eco-Friendly Supercar – A Sneak Peek

When it comes to all things cutting edge, and includes motorsports, there is not much Honda has not done. However, Honda may have outdone themselves with their latest “supercar”. Set to be released in 2014 the new Honda NSX or as many know it Acura NSX, well lets just say it is bound to be a success. The eco-friendly supercar will feature a 3.5 liter V6 rear wheel drive powerplant. For anyone that is a car buff probably saw the debut of this gem in 01 at the tokyo motor show. Along with the RWD V6, Honda will also include electric motors to help drive the front wheels, which the theory in itself is quite unique.

But, good people thats not all. For those who want a super car that is hybrid friendly, Honda is also thinking about a plug-in system for some spare lithium ion batteries, just in case you get stranded somewhere with no power. For now though we must wait for the release which is another 3 years away. Make sure to catch a peek either on a search engine or in Robert Downey Jr.s newest movie “The Avengers”.

Source;
http://stupiddope.com/2011/10/07/honda-nsx-concept-a-sneak-peek/

Another 20013/2014 Honda/Acura NSX Rendition....

Well, can't say that I've ever seen this variation of the next generation NSX.

Report: Honda confirms ‘new NSX’ in the works

With so many renditions to choose from....
Honda is reviving the NSX with an all new version of the sportscar icon, revealed by president and CEO Takanodu Ito.

Part of what Ito is setting out to enhance is the power-to-weight ratio, as he comments “I spent part of my early career at Honda developing the NSX, and specifically the aluminum body…I really enjoyed that experience, and learned much, so it is my wish 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.”

Previous plans for a 2010 release of the NSX were up cancelled due to economic decline back in 2008. Since then, Honda has decided to enhance the sport aspect of the brand, but in a manner more conducive to the economic climate.

Ito says “Our recent efforts have been focused on fuel efficiency, and that perhaps gives the impression Honda is behind with pushing the brand image of sportiness, but let me assure you that is not the case…We will address that impression with our new generation of cars.”
- By: Alexandra Koken

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/09/13/honda-confirms-new-nsx-supercar/

Woodyscarsite: What would the Avengers 'one-of' look like in production form?

Last week we saw the new Avengers movie Acura Supercar. Acura has said that this is going to be a one of made specifically for the movie and www.woodyscarsite.com managed to get a hold of an illustration as to what the car could look like if it were under production. I've got to say, looks nice!

Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/09/hondaacura-nsx.html

Remembering the curio classics: the 1989 Honda NSX

What a car.... By Ben Whitworth 28 March 2011 12:15 I spotted the NSX heading London-bound up the A3 early on Saturday morning, on the way to attend my best mate’s stag do. It was pristine, its cherry red paintwork and unscarred five-spoke silver alloys glinting in the sunlight. Low, sleek and barrelling along at a very decent pace, it looked utterly gorgeous. I was instantly struck at just how fresh and modern it looked. For a car launched in 1989, the Honda NSX is still contemporary, clean and head-turningly handsome, pop-up headlamps and all. Honda NSX: still contemporary today Even today, the elements to the car’s development sound fantastic. The perfect distillation of its engineering prowess, it was developed as Honda basked in F1 success. Its mid-engined cab-forward styling was inspired by an F16 fighter jet. Ayrton Senna, Satoru Nakajima and Bobby Rahal honed its dynamics. It was the world’s first car to go into production with a all-aluminium monocoque chassis complete with a sophisticated extruded aluminium bodywork. The NSX's wailing 2977cc V6 V-TEC engine was fitted with titanium conrods – another world first – and it revved to 8000rpm. The suspension was fashioned entirely from forged aluminium. It had telepathic electric power steering. It was hand assembled by a hand-picked crew of just 200 engineers. It weighed just 1350kg. And, of course, the Honda NSX was a gem to drive. The NSX – a supercar ahead of the game The Honda was defined by its brilliant chassis balance and superb agility, qualities that showed its contemporary rivals like Ferrari 328 GTB and Porsche 911 the dynamic back door. Visibility was panoramic, the spacious cabin was an ergonomic delight and reliability was exceptional. But despite this deep-seated talent, the NSX never really took off. It was, perversely, not seen as exotic enough for a blue-blooded supercar. It was criticised as being mundane simply because it was easy to see out of, didn’t break down, didn’t try and spit you into the nearest ditch at every opportunity and had a straightforward cabin design. Our loss, really. I gave the driver a thumbs up as he peeled off the carriageway and he grinned, dropped a cog and nailed it up the exit ramp. The lucky bugger. I spent the rest of my trip up to London trying to figure out where on earth I could find the £40k for a low-mileage 1997 3.2-litre with a six-speed manual. Source (with better pics); http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Community/Car-Magazines-Blogs/Ben-Whitworth/Remembering-the-curio-classics-the-1989-Honda-NSX/

Next Gen Acura NSX, Dead or not Dead?

Well? Is it dead (for now) or is it alive? First off, Honda released word that the upcoming (and "faster than the Nissan GT-R") was cancelled due to current world economics. Then a few days later a few sites report that Honda is going to be showing how far they had gotten by showing off their wares at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. It appears that the reports were a translation error and that the NSX is indeed shelved.

Anyway, here is a link to some back story;

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081231.003/acura-nsx-supercar-is-not-dead

Visiting the Honda HSC

The Honda HSC (High-performance Sports Concept) was initially shown to the public at the 2003 Tokyo Auto Show and although Honda never confirmed it, most thought that the HSC was going to be the next generation NSX.

The 2003 HSC featured a light weight, mid-mounted aluminum 3.5L V6 i-Vtec engine, with a 6 speed transmission controlled by either an F1 style paddle shifter on the steering wheel, or a unique dial shifter on the center console. When shifted into reverse, the navigation system's adjustable flat-panel screen in the center console becomes a display for a rear mounted camera. Abundant leather and aluminum trim pieces round out the interior, an all aluminum frame with Carbon Fibre body panels keep it light, and scissor style doors affirm its Super Car status.

I think that the back end of this concept would be a nice touch onto what Honda is proposing to be the next NSX, it stays closer to the actual NSX roots in my opinion.

Here's a link to the Honda HSC design page from Honda;
http://world.honda.com/collection-hall/globaldesign/hsc.html