What is the full name of the Acura NSX?
The full name behind the NSX acronym is "New Sports eXperiment." This expansion is widely cited in official materials and automotive references.
The NSX badge originated with Honda/Acura's original mid-engine sports car introduced in 1990 and has persisted through the brand's lineage. While variations have appeared in older material, "New Sports eXperiment" remains the commonly accepted full form today.
Origins and official meaning
Over the years, marketers and enthusiasts have sometimes noted slight wording differences. Below are the versions most frequently cited in credible sources:
- New Sports eXperiment
- New Sports Car eXperiment (appeared in some early press materials)
- New Sports eXperimental (seen in a minority of references)
Regardless of phrasing, the NSX designation has consistently signaled Acura's aim to combine lightweight construction with advanced technology for a high-performance driving experience.
Branding today and historical context
In contemporary branding, Acura primarily markets the vehicle as NSX. The full expansion is mostly used in retrospective coverage, showcar histories, and collector literature, rather than in current showroom materials.
Two generations and naming notes
The NSX concept has two generations: the original "New Sports eXperiment" car of the 1990s and the second-generation NSX launched in 2016. Across both generations, the NSX badge has remained the primary identifier, with the full phrase appearing mainly in historical contexts.
In the end, the widely accepted meaning is New Sports eXperiment, a reflection of Honda/Acura's goal to pioneer a new kind of high-performance, technologically advanced sports car. The NSX badge today stands as a benchmark of the brand's performance heritage.
Summary: NSX stands for New Sports eXperiment, with variations in older materials; today NSX is the core performance badge for Acura's sports car lineup.
