2017 Honda NSX: The rebirth of an icon

The Honda NSX first came out in August of 1990 and took the car world by storm. It was one of the first Japanese attempts to build a supercar and to this day it is known for Honda's only supercar ever. It had almost 300hp and 224lb ft of torque, all produced by a 3.2 litre V6 VTEC engine. I know it may not sound much for today's standards but at the time it was quite impressive for a Japanese supercar. It didn't have much luxuries, it was simple, elegant and had the looks of a spaceship. These are probably a few of the reasons why it was so successful.

But as most great Japanese cars it got discontinued after 15 years after being produced for 15 years, in November of 2005. Car enthusiasts all around the world were shocked but were still hoping for a replacement..which didn't come. Now after more than a decade, this JDM legend is reborn.

The new NSX is using a lot more technology, as most of us would expect. It's a 4WD hybrid with a twin-turbo V6 putting out 573hp and 406lb ft of torque and has a top speed of 191mph. Like most supercars, it has different modes for the driver to choose from like quiet, sport, sport+ and track. But the most interesting of them all is the quiet mode. It tones down the exhaust noise and output, uses EV as much as possible and cuts the shifts to 4,000RPM to reduce CO2 emissions as well as increasing fuel economy. That's smart engineering.

The technological advancements though don't end here. The new NSX has a 9 speed dual clutch transmission making gear changes as smooth as possible when it's driven normally and quietly and as rough and exciting as possible when you try to set lap times or drive like a hooligan.

As stated previously it's a hybrid. It has two electric motors producing 73hp (out the total 573), one in the front of the car and one in the back producing large amounts of torque and minimising turbo lag. Also at high speeds, these motors affect the steering. They make it smooth, sharp and more responsive so that the driver has the most feedback they can get from the car.

The brakes are Brembo performance brakes that we see in Porsches, with 6 piston calipers in the front and 4 piston in the back. The option of carbon ceramic disks is also available even though the standard ones are more than enough in my opinion.

The Honda NSX is an amazing piece of engineering and Japanese brilliance. It's comfortable and easy to get in and out of, unlike most supercars. It's a car that can be used every day and that's what Honda was going for. I believe they made a pretty good job. This is probably one of the few recent every day supercars. Honda, it has been long overdue, but congratulations on a job well done.

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