What engine does the Honda NSX use?
The NSX is powered by a mid-mounted V6, but the setup has evolved across generations. The original NSX used a natural-aspirated 3.0-liter (with a 3.2-liter VTEC variant in later years) while the modern NSX employs a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 paired with a hybrid system. This article traces how the engine configuration changed from the first generation to the latest Type S variant.
Engine configurations across generations
The two generations of the NSX reflect a shift from a conventional high-revving V6 to a turbocharged hybrid powertrain with electric assistance. The following points summarize the engines by generation.
- First generation NSX (1990–2005): Mid-mounted, naturally aspirated V6. The early cars used a 3.0-liter V6 producing about 270 horsepower; from 1992 onward, a 3.2-liter V6 with VTEC offered roughly 290 horsepower. The engine was paired with a 5-speed manual transmission and emphasized high-revving, lightweight performance.
- Second generation NSX (2016–2022): Mid-mounted, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with a hybrid system. The base NSX combined this V6 with three electric motors and a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission to deliver about 573 horsepower. All-wheel-drive handling was managed by Acura’s SH-AWD system. In 2022, a high-performance NSX Type S model raised output to around 600 horsepower with further tuning and weight-saving measures.
In summary, the NSX’s engine story moves from a pure, naturally aspirated V6 in the original model to a turbocharged V6 with hybrid electric assistance in the modern era, with a special higher-performance variant in the final years of the lineup.
Summary
Across its two generations, the Honda NSX shifted from a high-revving, naturally aspirated V6 (3.0L, later 3.2L with VTEC) to a sophisticated 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 paired with a hybrid system (plus three electric motors) and a special Type S variant that boosts power further. The engine philosophy evolved from the classic mid-engine sports approach to a turbo-hybrid performance architecture designed for modern efficiency and all-wheel-drive dynamics.
