Acura NSX


1991-2003





Introduction: The Acura division of Honda had only been around for five years when Honda decided to roll out the ultimate halo car. Featuring the most advance automobile technology at the time, the Acura NSX was truly the world's first exotic car that was reliable enough, luxurious enough, affordable enough, and ergonomically refined enough to be used as a daily driver.



1991 Acura NSX




Comments: Acura shocked the exotic car world when it introduced its NSX in 1991. Honda designers started with the basic exotic car wedge (championed by the Ferrari Testarossa and 308), that would remain basically unchanged for its entire life and could only be described as "beautiful." To back up the gorgeous styling, the mechanical specifications were right out of a race car. The NSX featured a super-light all aluminum chassis, body, and suspension, a first for a production car. The suspension was a double-wishbone suspension, mounted at both ends on aluminum subframes, just like Formula 1 cars. And the standard race-inspired V6 engine was mounted midship and featured Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC), six individual coils, and titanium connecting rods. This was the first application of VTEC in any production vehicle, but Honda's experience with the VTEC system in the NSX would eventually reach all other Honda and Acura vehicles.

Production: 3,163
Engines: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.0 seconds.



1992 Acura NSX




Comments: The 1992 Acura NSX was basically carried over from the year before with the only change being the addition of a new color: Grand Prix White.

Production: 1,270
Engines: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.0 seconds.



1993 Acura NSX




Comments: The 1993 Acura NSX was basically carried over from the year before. Minor changes included the addition of a passenger air bag (greatly reducing size of the glove box, a new A/C system, and a revised dash.

Production: 608
Engines: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.0 seconds.



1994 Acura NSX




Comments: 1994 saw few changes again. The key changes were new colors, bigger wheels and tires and a new 7-spoke wheel design.

Production: 512
Engines: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.0 seconds.



1995 Acura NSX




Comments: The big news for 1995 was the introduction of the NSX-T, a Targa Top version of the NSX. The removable roof looked great but hurt the chassis rigidity of the NSX and added about 100 pounds of weight. Nevertheless, the NSX-T was the only NSX available in the U.S. for 1995 - coupes were not available. All roofs were now body colored instead of black and several new colors were available. The automatic transmission now received a new "SportShift" Formula 1-inspired shifting system, which was controlled by a small lever behind the steering wheel.

Production: 780
Engines: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.0 seconds.



1996 Acura NSX




Comments: The 1996 Acura NSX was basically carried over from the year before. Coupes were available again, but only as a special order.

Production: 505
Engines: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.0 seconds.



1997 Acura NSX




Comments: 1997 saw the first engine upgrade for the NSX, with manual transmission cars receiving a new V6 enlarged to 3.2 liters. Power increased from 270 bhp to 290 bhp. Strangely, automatic transmission cars still received the old engine, now detuned to just 252 bhp. A six speed manual transmission replaced the previous five speed unit and a new single disc clutch replaced the previous twin disc clutch.

Production: 338
Engines: Manual: 3.2 V6 290 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 224 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. Automatic: 3.0 V6 252 bhp @ 6600 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 3.2/290: 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds.



1998 Acura NSX




Comments: There were no changes for 1998.

Production: 245
Engines: Manual: 3.2 V6 290 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 224 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. Automatic: 3.0 V6 252 bhp @ 6600 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 3.2/290: 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds.



1999 Acura NSX




Comments: The big news for 1999 was the availablity of an extremely rare model: the Alex Zanardi Edition NSX. Only 50 units were built to honor Alex Zanardi, a driver for Honda's CART racing team (he would later leave then come back to Honda). The main appeal of the Zanardi edition was its several weight reducing measures which included a fixed roof (no Targa top), lightweight BBS alloy wheels, lighter rear spoiler, single pane rear glass, a lighter battery, and a manual rack-and-pinion steering system instead of the electric power steering. These changes resulted in a 149 pound weight reduction over a NSX-T. Other features only available on the Zinardi edition included an individually numbered and signed plaque on the engine firewall, a race-tuned suspension, titanium shift knob, red-stitched interior trim with suede-like seating surfaces and aluminum-mesh intake covers. All Zinardi edition cars came in Formula Red.

Production: Zinardi Edition: 50
Engines: Manual: 3.2 V6 290 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 224 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. Automatic: 3.0 V6 252 bhp @ 6600 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 3.2/290: 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds.



2000 Acura NSX




Comments: The only changes for 2000 included new colors and an improved Anti-Lock Braking System.

Production:
Engines: Manual: 3.2 V6 290 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 224 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. Automatic: 3.0 V6 252 bhp @ 6600 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 3.2/290: 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds.



2001 Acura NSX




Comments: The only changes for 2001 are new colors.

Production:
Engines: Manual: 3.2 V6 290 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 224 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. Automatic: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 3.2/290: 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds.



2002 Acura NSX




Comments: The only changes for 2002 are new colors.

Production:
Engines: Manual: 3.2 V6 290 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 224 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. Automatic: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: 3.2/290: 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds.



2003 Acura NSX




Comments: The NSX finally received an exterior refresh for 2003. All NSXs are Targa top models (the fixed roof version was dropped). New fixed HID headlights replaced the old "pop up" design, and the front and rear bumpers and fascias were changed. The suspension was revised and the NSX received larger wheels and tires. In addition, the NSX is now available in a number of exterior colors with either a matching or black interior to provide a number of possible color combinations.

Production:
Engines: Manual: 3.2 V6 290 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 224 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. Automatic: 3.0 V6 270 bhp @ 7100 rpm, 210 lb-ft @ 5300 rpm.
Performance: N/A