Acura reveals its new NSX at The North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on January 12, 2015. Evoking the memory of Formula One legend Ayrton Senna and boasting of G-forces similar to the sport he graced, the $150,000 Acura NSX supercar made its global bow Monday in Detroit.JEWEL SAMAD/AFP / Getty Images
ACURA NSX
What is it?
Twenty-five years in the wake of the supercar's debut, this is a production version of the sports hybrid. Aluminum and ultra-high strength steel are used in the frame and the floor is made with carbon fibre, the combining for a rigid structure to absorb torsional and bending forces, and the placement of the mid-mounted engine and battery pack allow Acura to boast of the lowest centre of gravity in the class.
Signature feature
Air is collected through the side intake and floating C-pillar to feed a mid-mounted engine, and airflow is pushed over the rear deck to produce downforce. The twinturbo V-6 is mounted longitudinally; designers increased vehicle length by three inches in comparison to the concept model exhibited two years ago. The front design is appropriately aggressive, and the tail lights recall the look of the original NSX.
What else is new
Engineers conceived the vehicle from the inside out with priority on the driving experience. The auto maker pledges clean visibility, controls that are simple and intuitive, top-class ergonomics, and an instrument cluster that responds to the driver with pertinent information. The mid-frame is exposed under the leather dash panel to "reflect the design aesthetic of a naken sport bike."
Under the hood
The new power unit features a twin-turbocharged, 75-degree V-6 engine with a nine-speed dual clutch transmission and three-electric motor hybrid system. The rear direct-drive electric motor is positioned between engine and tranny to support acceleration, shifting and braking. Twin independent high-output electric motors power the front wheels.
When can you buy it, and for how much?
Acura will accept custom orders in the summer and deliver the cars later in the year. It will be priced at more than $150,000.
Cool quotient
4 stars (out of 5)
The car's been teased for years and now it's here, a sleek looking machine with hybrid tech. And Jerry Seinfeld was on hand for the launch.