Honda NSX - The End

Honda to Discontinue Production of the NSX Sports Car
-Successor sports car now in development-

TOKYO, Japan, July 12, 2005 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that it will discontinue production of the NSX, a vehicle that has enjoyed considerable popularity as pure sports car and won many fans worldwide. Honda is currently working on a successor, a new sports car for a new era, which is to incorporate Honda's most advanced technology.



The NSX made its debut in 1990 as a genuine mid-engine sports car with an all-aluminum monocoque body-a world's first for a production vehicle at the time. The NSX continued to evolve, with performance improvements including increased displacement, a 6-speed manual transmission, enhanced aerodynamic performance, and different tire sizes, along with the addition of the NSX Type-T open-top model and the NSX Type-R pure sports model with further enhanced driving performance. One of the first true sports cars to adopt clean emissions measures, the NSX succeeded in combining exhilarating driving performance with superior environmental performance. As a result, the NSX achieved total worldwide sales of more than 18,000* units during the 15 years it was in production.

Even after NSX production draws to a close, Honda will continue to foster an environment supportive of NSX owners and their enjoyment of their cars, through meticulous maintenance of NSX vehicles, a Refresh Plan to preserve vehicles in their optimum condition, and the continuing support of NSX Owners' Meetings to assist owners who wish to enhance their driving skills.

Production of vehicles destined for the North American market will be discontinued at the end of December, 2005. Production of vehicles destined for the European market will be discontinued at the end of September, 2005.
*As of the end of June 2005

Highlights of the History of the NSX

Feb. 1989 NS-X mid-engine sports car prototype introduced at the Chicago Auto Show
Oct. 1989 NS-X exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show
Aug. 1990 Acura NSX went on sale in the US
Sept. 1990 NSX went on sale in Japan
1991 "Owners' Meetings", designed to enhance driving skills, inaugurated
Jan. 1992 Custom order interior and body color plan introduced; its range later expanded.
Nov. 1992 Pure sports model Type-R added to the line-up
Feb. 1993 Minor model change (addition of passenger-side SRS airbags, other enhanced equipment)
1993 "Refresh Plan" introduced as premium service for maturing vehicles
Feb. 1994 Minor model change (16/17" aluminum wheels, reinforced brake pads)
Mar. 1995 Minor model change (Drive-By-Wire electronic control, F-Matic manual-feel automatic transmission, open-top Type-T added to line-up)
Feb. 1997 Minor model change (3.2-liter manual transmission model, 6-speed manual transmission, introduction of Type-S)
Sept. 1999 Minor model change (reduced exhaust emissions, enhanced equipment)
Dec. 2001 Minor model change (exterior design changes, 17" tires front and back)
May 2002 New NSX Type-R model introduced
Oct. 2003 Minor model change (Immobilizer, new body colors)

Source

Acura Developing a Successor to NSX
Current Generation NSX Production to Halt at Year End

TORRANCE, Calif. 07/11/2005 -- To further enhance the division's performance image, Acura is developing a new sports car to succeed the award-winning NSX supercar. Acura also announced that production of the current generation NSX will cease at the end of the year due to the extensive retooling necessary to meet stringent 2006 emissions and equipment regulations for the U.S., Europe and Asia.

"We are committed to having an ultra high-performance vehicle in the Acura lineup in the future," said John Mendel, senior vice president, automobile operations. "It's too early to comment on specifics, but the all-new model will be just as groundbreaking as the 1991 NSX."

As the first-ever supercar from Japan, the NSX was created as a hand-built, exotic, mid-engine sports car that would establish entirely new levels of performance, refinement and drivability. The NSX went on sale in the summer of 1990 and the following year posted record U.S. sales of 1,940 vehicles. Through June of 2005, NSX cumulative sales totaled 8,854 in the U.S. and more than 18,000 worldwide.

During its 15-year run, the NSX has been showered with accolades including, Automobile Magazine's "Automobile of the Year and Design of the Year" awards, Popular Science's "Best of What's New," Road &Track's "Ten Best Cars in the World" list. Motor Trend magazine also named the NSX to its "Top Ten Performance Cars" list and touted it as "the best sports car ever built."

Acura designed the NSX as a technological and performance showcase. Among other innovations, it was the first production car to feature an all-aluminum body, chassis, and suspension and to utilize titanium connecting rods. It featured a transversely mounted dual overhead cam V-6 engine equipped with Acura's breakthrough VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system and a variable volume induction system.

Over time, the NSX received continuous updates to ensure its competitiveness and popularity with serious sports car enthusiasts. The NSX has also captured multiple championships in the highest levels of sports car and prototype racing.

Additional Acura information and downloadable high-resolution images of the NSX are available at www.acuranews.com.

Source

And with this Honda's over-the-hill, aged relic is officially retired from the line-up and thankfully so. In its introduction and during its prime years, the NSX was Japan's first exotic supercar, and it was a Ferrari-fighter. With the assistance of the legendary F1 pilot, Ayrton Senna, in its development, the NSX embodied all things Honda. The formula was simple... make a sports car that was lightweight, high horsepower, high redline, world class transmission, stiff suspension and awesome handling. Development and production utilized the highest technology available. All this while keeping Honda's reknowned reliability and environmental friendliness. Sounds familiar? This same formula went into the S2000 as well. When the NSX arrived in showrooms in 1991, it represented Honda's ultimate achievement to date. It was Honda's halo car.

However the years have not been kind to the NSX. 1992 and 2002 witnessed the additions of the NSX-R to the model line, a stripped down, all business, no frills supercar. 1997 welcomed the 3.2L engine and 6-speed manual transmission updates. It was not until 2001 when Honda finally decided to update and modernize the exterior design with refreshed front and rear fascias. Currently at an MSRP of $89K, even though real street price is somewhere around the $75K to $80K range and Acura is offering an aggressive leasing program ($1,999 down plus tax, tag and title/$799 per month for 36 months), the NSX is overpriced, outdated and outmatched in its class. In 1991, the NSX sold over 3,000 units worldwide, falling off to about 500 by 1997 and plummeting to less than 100 today. Once the Ferrari 348 killer at its debut, its now the Ferrari F430's lackie. For $75K, I much whether spend a few more G's for a Porsche 997 911 Carrera S, that can run circles around the NSX in reverse! Sadly, even a C6 Corvette can outperform the NSX. Some blame poor sales due to brand bigotry. A $90K Honda they ask?!?! I would buy a $90K Honda if it was worth it. Unfortunately the NSX is not. With only 290HP, its not even worth $75K. Maybe at $55K, it would be more tasty.

This announcement is welcome and overdue for years. In an alternate, perfect universe somewhere, Honda would have either killed the NSX at the end of its prime in 1995/6/7/8 or performed more aggressive updates keeping up with advancing technology, even developing its successor 7 years ago, not 15 years after the original debut. But none of this happened, so today, a decade and a half after its introduction, Honda's once glorious turned unbecoming, aging mascot is officially dead. Today brings a mix of emotions. As a teenager, the NSX was my dream car. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to drive one, a 1991 model. I was impressed with its rawness, but coming from the S2000, I wasn't as impressed with its performance and handling. It is certainly better than the S2000, but only marginally better. While I'm happy and thankful that its gone, I'm sad at the same time. Its kinda like that an old relative in his 80's suffering from a long battle with cancer, who has finally passed on. While you are happy he's no longer suffering and at a better place, you're sad at the same time. I will miss the NSX.

I only hope that the S2000 doesn't suffer the NSX's same fate. With a 2006 model already announced, the AP1 platform is already in its 6th model year and sales are steadily declining. I hope that we will not see a 2007 S2000. Honda should kill it before people start referring to it as a dinosaur and before it becomes too overpriced, outdated and outmatched.

Besides the NSX retirement announcement, this press release also hints at its successor.

"We are committed to having an ultra high-performance vehicle in the Acura lineup in the future," said John Mendel, senior vice president, automobile operations. "It's too early to comment on specifics, but the all-new model will be just as groundbreaking as the 1991 NSX."

Ultra high performance and groundbreaking can only mean one thing for Honda - a V8 engine! Make it and they will buy.