The 2002 NSX-R
The original Honda NSX, produced from 1990 to 2005, was a truly remarkable car. Intended as a supercar you could drive on a daily basis (a remarkable concept in 1990), the mid-engine, rear drive NSX was a near-ideal blend of horsepower and handling. While the original cars only made 270 horsepower, an all-aluminum body kept the weight below 3,000 pounds. Like all mid-engine, rear drive cars, the NSX could get tail-happy in a corner if pushed hard by an inexperienced driver, and it didn’t take long for insurance companies to start raising rates on the NSX to astronomical levels.
The NSX was a favorite of F1 superstar Ayrton Senna, who was involved in the car’s development and chassis tuning. Later, Honda would release an Alex Zanardi edition in the United States to commemorate the Italian driver’s back-to-back CART championships, and variations of the NSX were raced at Le Mans and in the Japanese Super GT series.
A new NSX is under development, aimed at a 2015 launch. Unlike earlier cars, the new NSX will be built with an eye towards fuel economy as well as performance, so it will utilize a hybrid drivetrain instead of just a gasoline engine. The original’s mid-engine layout will be retained, but expect the new NSX to benefit from all-wheel-drive, thanks to front-wheel mounted electric motors. A third electric motor will provide supplemental power to the car’s V-6 engine, although Honda isn’t releasing horsepower figures just yet.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
To remind you that a new NSX is on its way, Honda Japan has released a near eight minute video tribute to the original, complete with a teaser on the new NSX. We tip our hat to Autoblog for digging this up, and if you’re a fan of the car, you’ll thank Honda for producing it.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
