Why is the NSX Acura?
The NSX is Acura's halo sports car designed to showcase precision engineering, blending a mid-engine layout with hybrid technology to deliver high performance while remaining practical for daily driving.
Origins and meaning of NSX
Acura’s NSX program traces back to the 1980s with a goal to build a technologically advanced, light-weight mid‑engine sports car that could rival the best European exotics. The NSX name has been interpreted in several ways over the years; commonly cited expansions include "New Sports eXperimental" or "New Sport Experience," though Acura and Honda have not fixed a single phrase in modern marketing. What remains constant is the concept: a high‑performance, engineering‑led vehicle that doubles as a showcase for new technology.
What makes the NSX a halo car
The NSX is engineered to demonstrate Acura's engineering ambitions, not just to sell cars. It blends advanced materials, a mid‑engine configuration, and hybrid propulsion to deliver extraordinary handling, acceleration, and braking performance while preserving everyday usability and reliability.
Below are the core reasons this model exists within Acura's lineup and what it signals about the brand's priorities.
- Engineering leadership: an all‑aluminum chassis and bodywork, advanced aerodynamics, and precision manufacturing.
- Performance platform: mid‑engine layout with a focus on balance, cornering grip, and throttle responsiveness.
- Hybrid technology showcase: Sport Hybrid SH‑AWD combines a V6 with electric motors to optimize torque vectoring, grip, and efficiency.
- Brand identity: a high‑end, technology-forward image that reinforces Acura's Precision Crafted Performance philosophy.
- Market positioning: a credible alternative to European exotics with a focus on daily usability, service infrastructure, and brand continuity with Honda engineering roots.
Together, these elements position the NSX as a flagship that informs product development across the brand and signals Acura's intent to blend performance with practicality.
Generational milestones: NSX through the years
Acura has deployed two distinct generations of NSX, each marking a different era of automotive technology and design. The first generation, introduced in 1990, established the concept of a reliable, high‑performance mid‑engine car with an all‑aluminum chassis. The second generation, launched in 2016, modernized the package with a hybrid drivetrain and modern electronics, culminating in a high‑performance Type S variant in 2022. The production run ended shortly thereafter, leaving a lasting impact on Acura's engineering direction.
Here is a concise timeline of key milestones.
- First generation NSX (1990–2005): groundbreaking all‑aluminum chassis, mid‑engine V6, and VTEC technology that married performance with everyday usability.
- Second generation NSX (2016–2022): a hybrid, mid‑engine supercar with a 3.5‑liter twin‑turbo V6, three electric motors, and an adaptive nine‑speed dual‑clutch transmission under the SH‑AWD system.
- NSX Type S and end of production (2022): a final, higher‑performance variant delivering about 600 horsepower, followed by a decision to discontinue NSX production as Acura shifted toward electrification and new performance platforms.
The NSX's evolution reflects Acura's broader shift toward electrified performance while maintaining its reputation for refined driving dynamics and everyday practicality.
Legacy and what it means for the brand today
Even with production concluded, the NSX continues to influence Acura's product language. It established the brand as a serious player in the performance segment, pushed the boundaries of what a "precision crafted" sports car could be, and inspired engineering priorities across future models, including electrified powertrains, lightweight construction, and advanced chassis control.
Summary: The NSX serves as Acura's engineering beacon, a halo car that translates Honda‑built technology into high‑performance, everyday usable cars. It links Acura's heritage with a forward-looking path toward electrified performance while reinforcing the brand's identity around precision, quality, and driver engagement.
What does NSX stand for in Acura?
For the original NSX, "New Sports eXperimental" was the intended meaning, derived from the development code name "NS-X" which stood for "new," "sportscar," and "unknown". For the second-generation NSX, the acronym was redefined as "New Sports eXperience".
Original NSX (1990)
- New Sports eXperimental: This was the original meaning used by the development team.
- New Sportscar eXperimental: This was the official name given for production after the hyphen was removed.
- New Sportscar and Unknown: Another interpretation during development was that the "X" represented the mathematical symbol for an unknown value, highlighting the vehicle's experimental nature.
Second-generation NSX (2016)
- New Sports eXperience: This was the new meaning for the second generation of the vehicle.
Was the first NSX a Honda or Acura?
The first generation Honda NSX (marketed in North America and Hong Kong as the Acura NSX) is a 2-seater, mid-engine sports car that was manufactured by Honda in Japan from 1990 until 2006.
What is so special about the Acura NSX?
Honda wanted the NSX to have amenities that most cars at the time had, ABS, traction control, and AC. In order to do that, they needed to make the car super light. They saved a lot of weight with the aluminum engine, so why not make the chassis out of aluminum as well.
Why did the NSX go from Honda to Acura?
When the first NSX launched in 1990, it was sold in North America as the Acura NSX. Acura operates as the luxury division of Honda, thus making it the perfect brand to launch this new sports experimental vehicle. The original NSX was actually sold as both the Acura NSX and Honda NSX, depending on the target market.
