2015 Detroit - Honda NSX vows in production form, finally

After building tons of expectation amongst ardent show-goers and fans worldwide since 2012 when the NSX Concept was first presented, Honda finally unleashed its all-new supercar in its production form. And it's not a Honda. Now, don't get confused. Since the debut location was the 'Motor City' Detroit in the United States of America where Honda's premium brand Acura has built a good reputation, the NSX would be badged and sold with an 'A' on its hood and boot rather than the 'H' we know here in India. Along with the Ford GT, the Acura NSX swept the critics and the public off their collective feet in Detroit.

Twenty five years! That's how long it has been since the original NSX went on sale. And Honda has never been the same again. That the NSX took Honda to an entirely different level would be a gross understatement of the car's virtues that even had Ayrton Senna, arguably the world's best racer and a Formula 1 legend, pitching in during the car's development. With the second-generation NSX, Honda has faithfully stuck to the original's formula of shifting the brand's own paradigms. So, what does the new NSX have in its arsenal that makes the fanboys go weak on their knees?

The first thing that comes to our mind about this mid-engined Japanese supercar is its hybrid powertrain. A twin turbocharged V6 engine mated to a 9-speed Dual Clutch Transmission is complemented by three electric motors - one each powering the two front wheels and a direct drive unit at the rear. Though Honda is still mum on the NSX's power and torque figures, the horsepower generated are transferred to all four wheels through a Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. Among its other hardware, the Integrated Dynamic System that adjusts engine, transmission and chassis response by letting the driver chosse between Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track modes and the "launch" function that aids in that ultimate 'zero delay' launch performance would keep the enthusiasts happy.

Despite the fact that we are familiar with the car through its various concepts forms in the last three years, the new NSX still looks hot and stylish. It sits low and wide wearing sharp, clean lines throughout. The aggressive front end is dominated by slim headlights with multiple LED elements and gaping air intakes. In profile, the signature side air intake and the functional floating C-pillar ups the style quotient by a few notches. The racecar-inspired diffuser and the quad exhausts in the middle look incredibly sporty. If the original NSX was the world's first all-aluminium monocoque supercar, the successor features an innovative multi-material body that utilizes an aluminium space frame, ultra high-strength steel, carbon fiber and other advanced materials.

The interiors are impressive too by supercar standards, interestingly christened "Human Support Cockpit" by Honda. Swathed in bright red leather, the driver and passenger seats are said to appear top-class grip levels and comfort. A sporty, flat-bottomed steering wheel, a dynamic TFT instrument cluster and the minimalist center console dominated by a rather large 'power' button stand out inside. The center console also extends into a midframe, a functional chassis structural member that reflects the aesthetic appeal of a naked sports bike. Don't look for anything exotic in the cabin as you normally would in a supercar. The NSX would suffice all other requirements though.

Slated to get into production at a brand-new facility in Ohio, United States later this year, the new NSX would mark the beginning of an all-new era for the Japanese marque. And yeah, there's a RHD version too, but the chance that we Indians might be treated to this supercar are supremely remote.