It's really fascinating to read about how the different Japanese car manufacturers began making a name for themselves, and later on, became the game-changers of the automotive world. They banked on their ingenuity and opted for simplicity to make cheap and reliable cars from the beginning. Once they've established their brand image, Japanese auto giants started to challenge the established big boys when it comes to performance.

Then came the 90s, when Japan totally took over and changed the way of high-performance motoring. Honda, in particular, made established sports car manufacturers go back to the drawing board when they revealed their instantly iconic NSX, which wore the Acura badge in the US. 25 years later, another new NSX came out, and once again the NSX was a game changer, this time featuring a hybrid powertrain. Now that the second-generation model is bowing out in 2022, let's remember the things that made the NSX a JDM legend.

10 Supercar For The Masses

We're not exactly sure if we would call the Acura NSX as an affordable supercar because it is still quite expensive, but the fact remains that it undercuts its rivals in the price department in a big way.

The NSX's rival in the 90s, the Ferrari 348, sold for around $100,000, while the NSX only costs $60,000. That applies to the second-generation as well, as even though it sells for $157,000, it's still much cheaper than the McLaren 570S and the Audi R8.

RELATED : The Real Story Behind The Acura NSX Supercar

9 Concept Versions

Both generations of the Acura NSX started life as a concept version, beginning with the HP-X, or the Honda Pininfarina eXperimental. Back in 1984, the concept version was unlike anything else and provided hints that Honda was building something that's way ahead of its time, beginning with the F16 fighter jet-inspired glasshouse and interior design, which puts an emphasis on driver involvement.

The second-generation NSX had two concept versions due to the economic crisis at the end of the 2000s, and began as the Acura ASCC or the Advanced Sports Car Concept in 2007, then later on as the NSX concept in 2012, which was very close to the production model released in 2016.

RELATED : This Is The Car That Inspired The First NSX

8 Legendary Development

The first and second-generation Acura NSX went through a lengthy developmental phase before becoming a production model. The first one took longer than expected, but it was worth the wait, because F1 legend Ayrton Senna helped refine the car's chassis and suspension dynamics, which clearly contributed to the car's phenomenal handling.

Honda faced a major setback with the economic crisis that delayed the second NSX model, and that may have had a great impact as to why it is underappreciated. Other car manufacturers have come up with their own hybrid supercars before the new NSX came in 2016, and that meant it was no longer the groundbreaking car that the original NSX used to be.

RELATED : Is the Acura NSX The Most Under-Appreciated Supercar?

7 Built For Everyday Use

As we all know, Japanese car manufacturers made their name in the automotive world for producing cars that are built to last, and that principle applies even to a supercar like the Acura NSX.

The first one was essentially a sports car with the reliability of a Civic, while the second one had the performance of an Audi R8, the riding comfort of an Accord, and, according to Evo magazine, "is nearly as fuel-efficient as the Civic Type R".

6 Unique Handling

The first-generation NSX was hailed as one of the "purest" sports cars of its time due to its direct handling and amazing feedback that it relays to the driver. However, it requires delicate control on the limit, as it doesn't have the driver aids that would correct the car in case you go too far.

On the other hand, the new NSX was packed with the latest technology in making the car go as planted as possible, but people frown at the fact that it wasn't quite like the old one where you're always on the edge. It's another aspect where Honda decided to follow industry trends instead of taking a different route.

5 DOHC VTEC

Honda produced an engineering marvel back in the 90s with their VTEC system, where efficiency meets performance. It was applied first in the entry-level Integra, then was adopted to the NSX's engine on the latter stages of the car's development phase.

On the other hand, the second-generation NSX also aimed for efficiency and performance, but this time, through the use of twin-turbos and an advanced hybrid system to complement the car's engine.

4 NSX-R

Perhaps what the new NSX missed out on is the lack of an all-out track-oriented version, like the first-generation's NSX-R. At the expense of creature comforts like sound deadening, the audio system, and even air conditioning, the NSX-R was designed for one thing only — raw performance.

For a car that had a base design built in the 1990s, the NSX-R was able to keep up, or even beat, European cars that were 15 years younger around the Nürburgring, where Motoharu Kurosawa clocked a 7:56 time back in 2002.

3 Super GT

Both versions of the NSX competed in the all-Japan Grand Touring Championship, or more commonly known today as Super GT. The first-generation NSX-GT was notably driven by the Drift King, Keiichi Tsuchiya, until his retirement in 2003.

The second-generation NSX-GT had three different versions that competed in the Super GT, starting off with the NSX Concept-GT that had a hybrid system, then the mid-engined NSX-GT which was notably driven by former F1 champion Jenson Button, and lastly, the front-engined version which is currently competing in the championship.

2 SH-AWD

Acura's SH-AWD, or the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system was made to complement the second-generation NSX's internal combustion engine, and thus, forming a hybrid setup. A total of three electric motors, one at the back and two in front, makes the car an all-wheel-drive sports car.

Though the electric assistance is basically used for torque vectoring, the NSX has a driving mode that allows it to run on pure electric power for about two miles, according to DriveTribe.

1 Type S

The final swansong of the second-generation NSX gave us the return of the Type S moniker, which was only limited to 350 units worldwide. It featured plenty of performance enhancements in the powertrain, and came with new design elements to improve airflow and downforce.

According to Acura, the enhancements made on the new Type S version made the car two seconds faster around the Suzuka circuit and is much quicker off the line than the standard 2021 NSX.