The people who approach us about our NSX...

Yeah. If you look into it, the original NSX concept sketch was made i THINK in 1984 and by Pininfarina. Thats why when people say the NSX looks like an Italian supercar, I tell them it is, but with Honda build quality so it doesn't break down
 
Yeah. If you look into it, the original NSX concept sketch was made i THINK in 1984 and by Pininfarina. Thats why when people say the NSX looks like an Italian supercar, I tell them it is, but with Honda build quality so it doesn't break down
I am going to have to do some research on that and make a video on it if possible.
 
So, it was not the final car they designed?
No- it was a long road to the production NSX. The 1984 HP-X was a car show concept car. It was never produced. After that, there were over 20 different test mules.

honda-hpx-02.jpg

Then in February 1989, there was the NS-X, which was debuted in the Chicago Auto Show in the famous story of Kume-san revving the engine to disturb the Ford booth next door.

AcuraNSXConcept-Chicago1989-09.jpg

The NS-X was missing VTEC (it was a 3.0L DOHC V6 with a 7,300 rpm redline) and the chassis reinforcement. Senna drove it at Suzuka and said it was too soft, so Honda took it to the Nürburgring for a few weeks and re-engineered it until it was 50% stiffer. Here he is doing his thing in that prototype.

Ayrton-Senna-in-Honda-NSX.jpg

Meanwhile, Honda's president Kume-san got mad (so did Mr. Honda) that the flagship car didn't have VTEC, so he made the team re-design the engine to DOHC VTEC and increase the rev limit to 8,000 rpm very late in the design process- the car was nearly ready for mass production. That's why the engine is tilted backward 5 degrees in the car- it's too big. Honda didn't have enough time to re-design the engine compartment.

The NS-X re-appeared at the Tokyo Auto Show in October 1989 and was much closer to the final version. This prototype had Senna's chassis reinforcements, but not clear if it had the VTEC engine yet.

cb8c39ca73461c4011b0a185ee08d784.jpg
 
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No- it was a long road to the production NSX. The 1984 HP-X was a car show concept car. It was never produced. After that, there were over 20 different test mules.

View attachment 185175

Then in February 1989, there was the NS-X, which was debuted in the Chicago Auto Show in the famous story of Kume-san revving the engine to disturb the Ford booth next door.

View attachment 185176

The NS-X was missing VTEC (it was a 3.0L DOHC V6 with a 7,300 rpm redline) and the chassis reinforcement. Senna drove it at Suzuka and said it was too soft, so Honda took it to the Nürburgring for a few weeks and re-engineered it until it was 50% stiffer. Here he is doing his thing in that prototype.

View attachment 185178

Meanwhile, Honda's president Kume-san got mad (so did Mr. Honda) that the flagship car didn't have VTEC, so he made the team re-design the engine to DOHC VTEC and increase the rev limit to 8,000 rpm very late in the design process- the car was nearly ready for mass production. That's why the engine is tilted backward 5 degrees in the car- it's too big. Honda didn't have enough time to re-design the engine compartment.

The NS-X re-appeared at the Tokyo Auto Show in October 1989 and was much closer to the final version. This prototype had Senna's chassis reinforcements, but not clear if it had the VTEC engine yet.

View attachment 185177
That is wild! You rock, man! That is so cool info!!!
 
>Thats why when people say the NSX looks like an Italian supercar,

Then compare to the 1987 Ferrari 408 Integrale (not designed by Pininfarina)

Even the rear spoiler looks familiar
 

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