When the first generation of the Acura NSX came out in the early 1990s, it pushed the exotic car market forward, forcing its mid-engined competition to build cars that were more reliable and usable every day. After 15 years of production, the original NSX run ended in 2005 and Acura promised a follow-up for nearly a decade. Numerous concepts were produced powered by everything from a V10 to an Acura RLX V6, but when it came time for the actual car to be revealed, Acura had settled on a DOHC twin-turbocharged V6 with a hybrid system. Although many people criticized this choice at the time for straying from what the first generation car was, in truth, it provided the same sort of motivation for competing manufacturers, this time, encouraging a move into the hybrid space.
This 2017 Acura NSX is finished in Casino White Pearl over black and red Semi-Analine and Alcantara interior. A lifelong California car, this NSX shows 14,105 miles on the odometer and is in very good condition throughout. An elegantly specified car, the pearlescent white paint is contrasted with carbon fiber exterior trim thanks to the Carbon Fiber Exterior Sport Pack, as well as a carbon fiber rear decklid spoiler. The staggered 19” front and 20” rear wheels are finished in graphite metallic and give the car the look of being in motion even when standing still and frame a set of bright red brake calipers, paired with carbon ceramic discs. In the rear of the car is a glass covering for the engine compartment, which is also filled with optional carbon fiber and provides a fantastic conversation piece when the hatch is opened.
One of the things that separated the original NSX from its competition was that the interior was simple, functional, and easy to understand- which was in direct opposition to many of its competitors coming out of Europe at the time. Although the interior of this NSX has many more features than the original car, everything is still simple and placed right out in the open. The two-tone red and black interior is bright and exciting, but not at all over the top, and works very nicely with the elegant brushed aluminum trim on the center console, dashboard, and door handles.
The really exciting part of the NSX is what sits behind the front seats- a 3.5 liter DOHC V6 with twin turbochargers that can rev to 7,500 rpm and produces 500 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, three electric motors-two on the front axle and one on the rear- make for a peak power output of 573 horsepower and help add both instant power and torque vectoring capabilities. Although it sounds complex, the system is seamless to use and offers both more flexibility and better economy than a standard internal combustion-only setup. This is then paired with the world’s first 9-speed dual-clutch transmission which sends power through a limited-slip differential at the rear wheels.
The second generation NSX wasn’t as widely appreciated as it should have been at launch and because of this, production numbers are surprisingly low. For the 2017 calendar year, just 581 cars were sold in the United States, making this an almost surefire collectible in years to come. If you have always wanted to enjoy a daily driver supercar, this NSX pairs speed and practicality in a way many other mid-engine cars do not and still represents tremendous value for money in today’s market.
