Classic cars with history: Honda NSX

Perhaps the Honda NSX doesn’t come across as a true thoroughbred sports car, but it has been one of the most iconic models of Honda and one of the most missed since it left the production line in 2005. While we keep waiting for a decision from Honda regarding a new generation, let’s take a closer look at the previous-generation NSX.

The NSX was the classic sports car, with some nuances added by the brilliance of the VTEC engine, its mid-engine layout and its all-aluminium monocoque. What Honda wanted was to bring Formula 1 technology to the road and create a sports car meant to be driven only by people with a high level of driving skill.

By 1986 the first prototype already existed, along with the decision that the NSX would be the first car in the world produced in series with a fully aluminium monocoque, which was one of the goals. For the second prototype, the opinion of Ayrton Senna himself was sought, who said that he “felt it was a bit fragile”. Although aluminium was not as rigid as the chassis of a Porsche or a Ferrari, it was decided to continue developing the car with an aluminium monocoque but with somewhat greater structural rigidity.

The third prototype already featured improvements to the monocoque, developed entirely at the Nürburgring circuit, marking the first time a Japanese manufacturer had settled in another country for eight months to develop a car. This time, the stiffness of the vehicle was increased by 50%.

By 1989 the first car was ready and was presented at the Chicago show, with production starting in 1990. The problems of working with a material as fragile as aluminium were solved by Honda in the most expeditious way possible: building its own welding and assembly system, at a rate of 25 units per day.

The NSX began to enjoy considerable sales success, and there were those who had to wait as long as three years to receive their cars. Later the Type R arrived, an evolution made possible by advice, feedback and direct orders from NSX customers.

The NSX had V6 engines from the start. The first units were delivered with the three-litre engine producing 270 horsepower, while later it was enlarged to a 3.2-litre V6 producing 290 HP.

The NSX was a marvel of a sports car in its day. By 2005 sales of the model had dropped drastically, and Honda discontinued it due to the costs of building it. Even today there are those who follow the development of the NSX (six years after it left the market), and even Honda itself continues on the NSX path, with the Mugen NSX-RR Concept presented as a curiosity in 2008.

There is no better showcase of the NSX than that famous video of Ayrton Senna at Suzuka, which you have probably seen many times, but which is worth watching many more. This really is driving a sports car…

Via | Honda Worldwide and Wikipedia