When the new Acura NSX came out several years ago, many of us were naturally very excited. Who wouldn’t be after all? A new NSX supercar was something people had been hankering after for many years. And a new one under both the Acura and Honda name got us all really hyped for what the future of the supercar might hold. However, when the new NSX came out, there were many people who weren’t very happy. For a variety of reasons.
While the new NSX was hardly a bad supercar, a lot of people didn’t gel with it. They felt it wasn’t really a true successor to the original NSX that it took its name from. Maybe it was the hybrid powertrain. Maybe it was the styling. Maybe it was how it drove. The new NSX never resonated with people, hence its average sales figures. However, we believe that most gearheads are actually wrong about the NSX. We think that actually, this outgoing supercar was better than a lot of people give it credit for. And it deserves to have its reputation restored.
Why The Modern NSX Wasn’t That Well Loved
The Acura NSX really didn’t have the best reputation for whatever reason. This is despite it being a gorgeous, reliable and fast supercar. Half of that comes down to the fact that people don’t see it as good as the original NSX. We can all say that the original NSX was a god-tier JDM car. It will always be one of the greatest. But the new one never got the same love. Many gearheads felt it was just too far away from what the original NSX was, and wasn’t a true successor.
There is some validity to that. Just because it carries the NSX name, it doesn’t mean it’s a true NSX. But on the other side of things, we have to remember that there was no way we could have a “true” successor to the original NSX. Times have changed, car design has changed, and powertrains have changed. The world in which the new NSX came out is vastly different to the one in which the original came out in. For all the criticism that gets leveled at the NSX, it has plenty of good points. More than many people seem to realize.
Why The Acura NSX Is Actually A Superb Supercar
First of all, the NSX is a very fast supercar. Mounted behind the driver is a twin-turbo V6 engine, complimented by dual motors at the front of the car and a single motor at the rear. This adds up to 573 hp and then 602 hp in the Type S version of the car. So the NSX is hardly short on power. Its 0-60 mph time is just 2.9 seconds and with a top speed of 191 mph, the new NSX is hardly a slouch by any means.
No matter how much you love the original NSX, you have to admit that the new one is very pretty. The modern NSX has incredibly sleek and flowing lines, and it definitely stands out in the supercar world. More so than say the likes of those from McLaren. While McLaren’s supercars look fantastic, they sadly all look very similar to each other. The modern NSX offers something a little bit different in terms of its styling. Weirdly, this is something that many people felt was off about the car. But we think it's one of the prettiest supercars of its time.
A Reliable And Very Rare Supercar
Something else that the NSX has in its favor is its reliability. Something that other supercars can’t always testify too. The McLaren 650S, for example. A great supercar but one that is a nightmare to own for many people. There are some pretty appalling reliability problems documented from owners. The NSX looks better, is more reliable and is actually cheaper than its equivalent McLarens. Plus, the NSX is super rare. Less than 3,000 were ever made. That is even less than the 2005 Ford GT, a car many people see as incredibly iconic thanks to its rarity.
A Supercar That Does Not Deserve The Criticism
We will admit, the new NSX never quite recaptured the magic of the original NSX. But that doesn’t mean it is a bad car. Because it really isn’t. The modern Acura NSX is a much better car than people actually give it credit for. It's fast, it's reliable, it's good-looking, and it is quite the comfortable supercar. That is something not every supercar manufacturer can achieve. The sad truth is, the new NSX always had a tough act to follow. But we think it did a more than good enough job of living up to its predecessor. We just hope the passing of time sees people reflect on the car a bit more favorably.
Source: Acura