Honda NSX 2015
The NSX will be sold as an Acura in America and the company has announced
that the main reason
for the delay is a change in engine layout that occurred
during the cars development process.
A spokesman for Honda confirmed that the delay to the Acura will also affect
the European NSX saying With Acura announcing the delay of the NSX that will
affect mass production of the Honda version] for Europe as it all comes from
the same factory. It will be spring 2016 but there is no definite date yet.
More information is expected later in 2015 most likely around October time.
The European version of the Honda NSX was revealed for the first time at the
2015 Geneva motor show while the car was originally shown at the Detroit show
in January some 25 years after the launch of its iconic predecessor. The
new secondgeneration car has been developed in the US and will be produced in
the new Performance Manufacturing Centre in Marysville Ohio.
Although the new NSX is built around a lightweight structure and has
a midmounted V6 engine that is where the resemblance to the original allaluminium
NSX ends. The new model has a petrolelectric hybrid powertrain driving all four
wheels and a new multimaterial structure with an ultrastiff
carbonfibre floor.
The heart of the NSXs powertrain is a 75degree twinturbocharged V6
which drives an all new ninespeed dualclutch automatic gearbox. On top of this
the NSXs sport hybrid system incorporates three electric motors.
Honda hasnt officially revealed the powertrains power and torque
outputs yet but it is expected to produce a system total of about
550bhp.
The V6 has a drysump lubrication system and compact valvetrain
designed to allow the motor to be mounted as low as possible in the body
helping to lower the cars centre of gravity. Honda says the ninespeed DCT is
capable of synapsequick shifts and executes revmatching downshifts.
One of the three electric motors is housed between the engine and
gearbox and is said to support acceleration braking and transmission shifting
performance.
The other two motors are mounted on the NSXs front axle. Each motor
drives an individual wheel not only delivering instantaneous torque according
to Honda but also providing dynamic torque vectoring.
Each motor drives a front wheel and can apply differing levels of
torque enhancing acceleration and braking performance. This setup can also
deliver zerodelay launch and braking performance the company says. Agile
Handling Assist (AHA) uses subtle application of brake torque to further
enhance response and dynamic stability.
The NSX has four switchable chassis modes. Quiet mode allows the
car to be driven on battery power only for short distances. The other
modes in an ascending order of dynamism are Sport Sport+ and Track. Honda claims the
latter reveals the full spectrum of the NSXs capabilities.
During the NSXs development chief engineer Ted Klaus told Autocar
that the complex electronics would be tuned to only intervene if they improve
the driving experience. In particular he highlighted the possibility of using
the electric motors to deliver instant throttle response or to allow silent allelectric
drive. The NSX must stay true to the role it created of being an everyday
exotic said Klaus. That means we must only use the new tech to support the
driver to live with the car every day and to give the driver a car with a depth
of abilities that they can peel away with familiarity as they get to know the
car.
The technology gives us a chance to create a car that is focused on
being agile precise and linear in its responses like never before. We are
looking to do more than chase numbers on paper as with the original NSX we wont have the most
powerful car in the category for instance but we believe the human element is
more important than that. Whatever we do the driver must be at the centre of
the experience not the car.
The structure of the new NSX is described as a spaceframe design
that is constructed from ultrahighstrength steel and aluminium. The floor of
the structure is made of carbon fibre and the cabin features ultrathin Apillars.
Honda NSX 2015
![]() |
Honda NSX 2015 |
The NSX also features a worldfirst (aluminium) casting process that combines the benefits of both cast and forged components. The body panels are made from a combination of aluminum and sheet moulding composite.
At 4470mm long the NSX is about 40mm longer the original as well as
130mm wider and 45mm higher. The front track is a significant 145mm wider and
the rear track 75mm wider. The cars shape was aerodynamically refined in Hondas
Ohio wind tunnel.
Under the skin the NSXs Tshaped battery pack is mounted down the
cars centre tunnel and behind the seats. Suspension is by aluminium
double wishbones all round and the car rolls on 8.5x19in front and 11x20in rear
wheels.
The braking system features carbonceramic discs with sixpot
calipers on the front and fourpot
calipers at the rear.
The Nissan GTR Porsche 911 Audi R8 Ferrari 458 and McLaren 12C are
among the competitors that were used benchmarks by the development team
according to Klaus. Were looking for the excitement
of the 458 at the price of
the 911 and we think the hybrid technology can help us achieve that he said.
The NSX has never been about a set of figures on a piece of paper
he added. As with the original the eventual power figure wont grab headlines
for instance but the qualities that you cant write down such as driver
involvement and pleasure are the ones that will matter. As engineers we
like numbers but Im acutely aware that if we build this car against a set of
criteria that has been written down we will lose our sense of focus.
The order books for the new NSX will open in the summer and the
first examples should be delivered towards the end of this year. The likely
price has yet to be revealed although the UK allocation of cars has already
been reserved by eager customers.
Officials have confirmed to Autocar that a righthand drive version
of the NSX will be made with the aim to have that model on sale before the end
of 2015. Just 1419 examples of the original NSX were sold in Europe between
19902007 from 18700 sales globally.
Sources have already suggested that a Honda NSX convertible will likely be made.
Hondas president Takanobu Ito has also hinted a racing NSX will be
made. Speaking at the launch of the original concept car at the Detroit motor
show in 2012 he said It is a car that is up to the performance of racing and
while this car is for customers you might see it racing as well. Since
2005 we have strived to make a successor but global change has had a colossal
effect on the industry in that time. Even a supercar must respond to
environmental responsibility. This car is about high performance through
efficiency.
Tags
Honda