Plenty of excitement surrounds mid-engine hybrid all-wheel drive superstar
Absolutely thrilling We took a trip to Marysville, Ohio to not only see the pristine plant where the second-generation NSX is exclusively built, but to experience the 2019 version of the supercar in action on track. As beautiful as the plant is, the track time was an absolute thrill. What follows are 21 reasons to crave one. ▲
Frankly, it’s a bloody NSX! Obviously, we will tell you some more specific reasons, but one look at it and any understanding of this 2-door coupe’s super powers is all one needs to get excited about this mid-engine hybrid all-wheel drive superstar. ▲
What drives it? The centrepiece of the NSX’s force is a hand-assembled, longitudinally-placed, turbocharged 3.5-litre V-6 rated at 573 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque when combined with its three electric motors. A 9-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power to all four wheels under Acura’s SH-AWD system with torque vectoring abilities. ▲
Its sloping strong physique is inviting The NSX is a pure masterpiece of low, wide and long, with a sloping roofline looking for action. Unlike the cutesy original with pop-up headlights (right), the new version looks and acts like a supercar, but does so in a less aggressive and more inviting way than others in this price bracket. ▲
Two years in and already changing Acura wants to ensure it stays on top of its game with tweaks already coming, just two years after its relaunch. The changes focused on suspension with the continued aim at balancing road and track performance. The 2019 NSX tested at the Suzuka Circuit and turned in a nearly 2-second-faster lap-time than the outgoing model. ▲
Tuning tweaks In order to keep speed into corners, Acura re-tuned its front and rear anti-roll bars (26% stiffer in the front; 19% in the rear), while the rear hub becomes 6% more rigid. In addition, software tuning was made to its adaptive damper system, electronic power steering, super handling and vehicle stability assist. ▲
New sportier Continental tires Acura wasn’t pleased with its previous Continental SportContact 5 tires and worked exclusively with the tire brand to have SportContact 6s fitted to the 2019 model. According to Acura, a new tread design, construction, and softer compound leads to 15% better grip for ideal handling. ▲
Driving it on track is exhilarating It can do a 0-100 km/h sprint in under three seconds, but those are just numbers compared to the effortless burst felt on the track. What surprised me the most was how quick it got up to speed and balanced those corners with minimal steering input. A little lift here, a little brake there, and you’re in the groove. ▲
Connecting the driver with the road At times on track, there’s that certain edge felt when pushing hard. In the NSX’s Track mode, it was unusually calming and under control. Perhaps I could have gone past the 105 mph read-out on the dash, but the tweaks to the hybrid supercar give a sense of constant confidence and a connection with the track, especially on turns, unmatched by other supercars. ▲
Great steering wheel grip The NSX’s flat-bottomed steering wheel has that perfect amount of thickness to allow it to be gripped with ease. While turning, steering is light and responsive. On the first couple of laps, I found myself turning a little too much, but after getting used to the supercar’s abilities, the track was a cinch to navigate. ▲
Launch control Place the NSX in Track mode, simultaneously place your left foot on the brakes and your right full throttle down – and wait for a beep. Release the brakes and the NSX literally launches off the spot without any regard for your body parts. It’s aggressive, it’s a jolt of lightning and surprise, but most importantly, it’s so thrilling. ▲
Mistakes don’t get you out of sorts Small mistakes such as braking too hard, being slightly off the racing line, or hitting the apex incorrectly occur more often than I want. In these moments, the NSX and its torque vectoring powers are at your disposal as the back end doesn’t get out of sorts through a wiggle. Rather, it sets you up nicely in a nonchalant manner for the next corner. ▲
Enhancements to its look The front end is made to look lower and more aggressive through minor exterior enhancements to its grille. A body colour grille garish is used instead of having a silver lining, while a gloss black finish is used in its mesh and carbon fibre instead of matte. ▲
Oh, that orange colour! A new colour termed Thermal Orange has been added to the 2019 NSX fold. Who knew the orange version would stand out and work with its gloss black grille better than the racing red colour? That orange or red theme can be further enhanced by same-colour calipers; orange on ceramic brakes and red on iron brakes. ▲
Additional standard equipment For the $189,900 price tag, you would assume most comes standard. That wasn’t the case before, but now that’s been modified by Acura for 2019 with the inclusion of navigation, aluminum sport pedals, front and rear proximity sensors, and a premium ELS studio audio system. ▲
Simplistic cabin Inside a supercar, there’s no need for too many bells and whistles. Acura keeps the cockpit simple with a low-to-the-ground seating position that utilizes bolstered seats to grip you in for the ride. The luxury brand may term the car a road and track specialist, but you will not find much room for storage. It’s all about the focus and enjoyment of the ride, wherever you are. ▲
Talk of an Indigo Blue interior Style is key when purchasing an NSX and Acura understands this by adding an optional Indigo Blue Alcantara interior to go along with its striking fully-red leather option. It was not seen in person, but there were plenty of Acura employees swooning over it. ▲
Only 16 to be made for 2019 When the NSX was first released, there were around 150 made worldwide. For 2019, only 16 NSXs will be produced for exclusivity purposed. As you would imagine, some deposits are already in-hand. ▲
Tale of the tape The NSX measures well against its competition in terms of power specs. Its natural rivals are the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 Turbo and McLaren 570S. The McLaren may be the only one to be more expensive than the NSX, but the Acura trumps all in horsepower, torque and in a 0-100 km/h sprint. ▲
Pristine clean-sheet manufacturing centre We also toured Acura’s spotless Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, the exclusive plant of the Acura NSX that have close to 100 hand-selected associates working on the supercar. The pristine space has some robotics at work, but its the seamless interaction between machine and human craftsmanship make this place unique. ▲
Watch your supercar get made Media guests were welcome on this day, but owners or deposit placers can watch the hybrid supercar be built at the PMC. It takes 14 hours of work per car, so you won’t capture the 2-day paint job, but you may see some of the bolts be individually started and tightened, along with the robotics at work. ▲
Can’t devalue what the product is meant to be Emile Korkor, senior manager, brand leader, Acura Canada feels the new 2019 is a near perfect masterpiece. He states that, “these NSX changes are essential to not devalue what the product is meant to be: stability, performance, total output, and zero delay. The whole is the sum of its parts.” ▲
Keyword: FIRST DRIVE: 21 reasons to crave an Acura NSX