NSX successor may get all-wheel drive in addition to V10, Honda says

[Iggy]

Words:YUZO YAMAGUCHI | Automotive News

Posted Date: 8/16/05
TOKYO - Honda Motor Co. is looking at installing its high- performance all- wheel- drive system in the successor to the Acura NSX.

The new car, which will be powered by a V10 engine, is scheduled to arrive about 2008.

"Of course, we're thinking" about combining all-wheel drive with the V10, says Takeo Fukui, Honda's president. "The SH-AWD is Honda's core technology, and using this well is the next step."

The company says SH-AWD - short for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive - is the first awd system to distribute optimum torque between the front and rear wheels and between the left and right rear wheels.

It was first installed on the Acura RL last fall. After its debut, Fukui said Honda would be looking to use it on other high-performance Acuras.

During aggressive driving, as much as 70 percent of the torque is delivered to the rear wheels, the company says.

During a high-speed turn, the differential also sends as much as 100 percent of the rear-wheel torque to either wheel. This improves traction and helps avoid spinouts.

In the United States, Acura sold 10,173 RLs this year through July, up from 3,149 in the same period of last year.

The company has said that the NSX successor won't be front drive, meaning it will be either rear drive or awd. Production of the NSX will stop at year end. The NSX and the S2000 are Honda's only rwd cars.

Source:http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102981

 

[Mr. 4500 RPM]

not to thread jack but hows the trip going?

 

[Phoenix5]

That's cool that it'll be AWD,BUT V10?????s***!!!What's the price of that gonna be??150k???That's insane!!!Honda should just stick to plan of trying to build a V8 or just twin-turbo a V6 for the HSC.That car is just plain sick!!

 

[Scotty878]

I already knew about this but good for them! I've always liked the NSX but it's always been a little slow for the way it looks(and costs for that matter) I really hope this one whips!

 

[Phoenix5]

I already knew about this but good for them! I've always liked the NSX but it's always been a little slow for the way it looks(and costs for that matter) I really hope this one whips!

Well,yeah you can save about 70k and get a base Z for 26k with almost as much hp as the NSX(287 vs 290) w/ a hell of a lot more torque.I am also a fan of the NSX but Acura did overprice it...a lot!!!But I guess the main reason is because it is Acura and IT IS Japan's version of an exotic car.

 

[Pirana]

Well obviously you guys havent really looked at an NSX. Aluminum is not cheap, the technology involved was ahead of its time. The only reason people argue that it was overpriced was because it didnt have a V8. But looking at some of the V8s in that era (Mustang GT 225hp comes to mind) this was a car with enough horsepower. The mistake Honda made was not to improve on the hp output as time went by. Yes the did increase 20 hp in 1997, but after that they stay forever the same. This car should have jumped to about 350 by the end of its production.

Have you ever gone to a meet and see people drool over a Z, the X will own them all (except Italians). The beauty, the lines, how low it actually is, the growl of the engine (with aftermarket exhaust), the 8k redline...15 year old technology that keeps on par with todays hot cars...including Porsches (na). When my friend and I go to the clubs in his Porsche and my NSX, the valets run to the X and leave the Porsche on the dark side of the lot. Its funny.

Anyway, wanted to rely some of my experiences with the NSX, this truly is a complete car, one that can be driven with your grandmother on the passenger side on night, and the other just drive the s*** out of it...it lends itself to every possible scenario. Obviously it wont keep up with some of the tricked-out Zs or C6s but who needs too, it puts them to shame under the lights!!

 

[Phoenix5]

(lol)"The X",hahhaa,that's a good nickname for it...my "X"(lol2).Anyway,If I had the money,I would take the "X" rather than the Z because of the attention comparison esp. nowadays and it has VTEC(which I am so jealous of bc the P5 doesn't have it,lol).I mean in my case,an NSX(1st or 2nd gen), even stock,would get my attention rather than a Z(unless it was modded) considering that everyone has a Z on the road.

 

[Scotty878]

Pirana, you're right about a lot of things! And yes, I have looked at an NSX, my friends dad has the newer one in blue....I took around 70 pictures of it one afternoon...Its a beautiful car! I attached a picture of it, the sun was going down and that park/parking lot is right across the street from my house so I figured why not snap a few, it turned into a little photshoot lol. Anyway, like I said, I do agree with you on a lot of things and I would certainly pick an NSX over PLEANTY of things, especially a Z of any kind! It's a great car!!

P.S. I'm going to save that pic if you dont mind, the friend whos dad has the NSX loves purple so he'll love that!!

I can post a few more pics of it if requested!

 

[Pirana]

I know it sounds corny....but it was just like saying the "Z" vs the "X", hehehe.

Scotty, I love the blue one....that was my first choice, but those where pretty pricey!! So purple had to do.

 

[Phoenix5]

Type R!!!Hell ya!!

 

[Scotty878]

Pff...NSX-R....NSX-R GT!!!!(I thought I had a better link but guess not!) http://www.autocarmag.com/News_Article.asp?NA_ID=214363

And yeah, they are a little expensive, but I sure as hell wouldnt mind settling for a used purple one as you did! And thanks for the other pic, he'll enjoy them!

 

[Iggy]

I already knew about this but good for them! I've always liked the NSX but it's always been a little slow for the way it looks(and costs for that matter) I really hope this one whips!

Even though Pirana probably said it best i feel the need to chime in since ive always loved the nsx.

The nsx came out in 1991. Back then it could keep up with Ferrari's and the rest of the worlds best. Since then it hasn't gotten a major refresh. So it is basically a 15 yr old car that wil still hold its ground with todays sports cars. Sure its not the fastest in a straight line, but with a 0-60 of about 5 flat and a top speed of about 175 or so, its hardly what I would call slow.

 

[Pirana]