Hey guys so this morning I saw on youtube some sort of conference or something where Shigeru Uehara was talking about the NSX concept. Here's the video below. I have no clue what the was saying and it appears it may be related to the interior since he keeps touching that black roll of fabric.
Anyone who knows Japanese willing to give us a brief summer of what he was talking about?
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Seems that this video was taken after the NSX concept was revealed to a group of people who are about to have a Q&A session.
The video starts while he is taking about the fact that there are still several clubs that are still active and successful within Japan (not sure if he is making references to racing teams, or regional car clubs), and that activities like reunions of clubs had been taking place prior to the incident in Fukushima.
Then he goes on talking about how he himself at one point was wondering what would happen to the NSX. With the prior announcement of the NSX and the introduction/presentation of the concept vehicle that was shown moments ago he feels that the NSX's legacy will be continued.
Then he rambles for close to 30-45 seconds without saying much, then he continues saying that after these 7 years since the NSX stopped being manufactured/sold he feels comforted by the fact that there are still owners who still drive their NSX's in stock form.
Then he goes on stating that typically when time passes vehicles tend to be modified/altered, and his impression is that the NSX seems to be the exception and that many owners still drive them in stock form and that he's glad for that fact.
Then he goes on making a cultural reference to bosozoku, saying that he's also glad that there are not many NSX's that have been modified to fit that mold/culture.
Then he goes on addressing that in general modding vehicles will affect reliability and that the desire for being able to drive the vehicle for a long time should be goal #1.
Then he goes on using engine's as an example, stating that manufacturers design the engines such that it won't encounter catastrophic failures when left in stock form, once the engines are modified the manufacturers can't make any guarantees in regards to the reliability of the engines.
As long as engines are left in stock form they are usually reliable for tens of thousands of kilometers, but when they are modified the balance is broken/tipped and the engine's life is compromised/shortened.
And his personal belief/philosophy that he has been sharing when he speaks is that leaving things stock is the better way to go, and that instead of modifying engines the money would be better spent becoming a better driver by attending track events or attending club activities.
As he mentioned earlier with the introduction of the NSX concept he feels that the original NSX's legacy will be continued, but from his generation point of view (as a member of the original NSX team) he feels that everything that they wanted to do with the first generation of the NSX was accomplished with the culmination of the NA2 NSX-R. So there is nothing left to do regarding that platform.
As such he feels that there is nothing that needs to be passed on from the 1st generation to the 2nd generation of the NSX.
So his wish has been that the NSX2.0 team be given full freedom, as a new car designed by a new set of engineers.
He personally has had zero contact with the NSX2.0 team, so he can't answer any questions regarding how the NSX2.0 itself is progressing.
Since the car is being designed in the US, his own thoughts is that it is a large/challenging undertaking for a new vehicle that follows a new line of thinking by a new set of designers/engineers, and that their desire (Honda Corporate Japan) is to not to interfere/burden that effort.
Then he goes on to say that he personally would support that effort, but then he retracts that statement saying that not providing his own feedback/opinions might be the best way given that it is a completely new vehicle that he does not want to disturb.
He finishes by stating that he's looking forward to the Q&A session that will be following and he finishes that portion of the presentation.
