What is the full name of the Honda NSX?
The concise answer: NSX stands for "New Sports eXperimental." Globally the car is known as the Honda NSX, while in North America it is marketed as the Acura NSX due to branding differences.
Beyond the acronym, the Honda NSX is a mid‑engine hybrid sports car that has evolved across two generations since its 1990 debut. The name has traveled with the car through different markets and branding choices, reflecting Honda’s attempt to blend performance with reliability and innovation.
Meaning of NSX and branding across markets
The NSX acronym is widely explained by Honda as standing for "New Sports eXperimental." While some older materials referenced variations like "New Sports eXperience," the core idea behind the letters is the same: a fresh, technically ambitious sports car. The X in NSX signals the experimental or exceptional nature of the project at launch. In practice, markets outside North America have typically used Honda NSX, whereas North America used Acura NSX as part of Honda’s brand strategy there.
Generations and current status
First generation (1990–2005)
The original NSX, introduced in 1990, established Honda as a maker of high‑tech, reliable sports cars. It was built with an aluminum chassis and a mid‑engine layout, and it carried the NSX badge under Honda branding in most regions.
Second generation (2016–2023/24)
The modern NSX arrived in 2016 under the Acura badge in North America, featuring a hybrid powertrain that combines a twin‑turbo V6 with three electric motors and SH‑AWD all‑wheel drive. A limited, high‑performance Type S variant followed in the early 2020s. Production of the current generation wound down in the early 2020s, marking the end of a dedicated NSX run for now. In markets outside North America, the vehicle has continued to be sold as the Honda NSX, reflecting regional branding choices.
What the name means in context
In the big picture, NSX is the model’s badge and its meaning—“New Sports eXperimental”—is part of Honda/Acura’s effort to convey cutting‑edge technology, aggressive performance, and a new way of thinking about sports cars. The branding strategy—Honda NSX globally versus Acura NSX in North America—highlights how automakers tailor names to suit regional markets while preserving the core identity of the car.
Summary
NSX stands for New Sports eXperimental, a name that has traveled with Honda’s mid‑engine, hybrid sports car through two generations and across markets. The vehicle is marketed as Honda NSX outside North America and Acura NSX in North America, reflecting branding decisions that accompany its global rollout and evolution.
Notes about current status
As of 2024–2025, the second‑generation NSX has concluded its production cycle with the completion of its final variants, and no new full‑production NSX model has been announced. Enthusiasts continue to regard the NSX as a milestone in Honda/Acura’s performance history.
