The Honda NSX is a pretty famous supercar – first due to Clarkson trying to do the same lap time at Laguna Seca as he did in Gran Turismo, and second because it is the only ‘real’ supercar that is at an affordable price range. However, this looks set to change when the new variant arrives, sometime in 2010 (or possibly 2011).
The new Honda has been spotted lapping the Nurburgring (apparently the current trendy test ground for racers of any note) quite happily, especially as development has only just begun. Nonetheless, already the engineers have been handed two quite challenging targets.
The first target is to get the suspension setup ‘just right’. Whether that means for the track or the road remains to be seen – but given the previous iteration was also reasonably usable every day then I’d suggest it’s going to be somewhere in between – with perhaps a ‘race tune’ option available.
Honda wants to build the fastest production model around the circuit – a fairly impressive desire. Whether this is an achievable goal remains to be seen, what with the Nissan GT-R managing a ferocious sub seven minute thirty lap time. Scary indeed, though unsurprising given that the GT-R is capable of 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and that 13 mile Nurburgring has a wealth of turns, straights and just about everything else you can throw at a driver.
The car to replace the NSX may well not bear the same moniker, so we’re waiting news on that. However, we do know that it will feature a 550bhp 5.5 litre V10 with clever ‘cylinder deactivation’. What that means is that the engine will only be running on half the cylinders when just pootling to the shops, and all 10 when you press on to make sure that your ice-cream doesn’t melt. This will give you better fuel economy and lower emissions. Torque is set up at a frankly terrifying 570Nm – enough to rip your face off.
The car’s setup will be a 2+2 arrangement (will there be actual room for real human beings in the back though?), with a hybrid aluminium and steel body in order to reduce weight. For the old school amongst you you’ll be disappointed with the eight-speed auto gearbox with flappy paddles (even if it is one of those shifts-as-fast-as-F1 jobbers). Naturally, trick four wheel drive will make you the proud owner of the fastest thing to pull away from the lights (or race round Milton Keynes ring roads) this side of the new Porsche 911.
Will it be any good? Most definitely. Will it be worth the asking price of £90,000? Well, that’s a more difficult question to answer. After all, for that price you could be looking at a variety of cars such as the Nissan GT-R, the Audi R8 or a BMW M5. Tough competition I’m sure you’ll agree.
Unfortunately, in light of the fact above, I’m starting to doubt too that it’ll garner as much attention as the previous version of the NSX. It certainly seems as though the GT-R has claimed the title of ‘car for the Playstation generation’ this time around. I can’t see it being available for £18,000 anytime soon either – but who knows. Either way, I hope it ages as well as the previous NSX and has the performance it is promising.
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