The Japanese car industry went from being irrelevant back in the '60s to becoming one of the most respectable car manufacturing powerhouses in the world. Names such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are synonymous with affordability and reliability to the majority of motorists. However, hardcore gearheads know for a fact that Japanese automakers are capable of manufacturing truly remarkable sports cars.

RELATED: The Acura NSX Was The Real Hero Of Pulp Fiction

Honda may not be the brand most gearheads dream of, but it sure has produced a handful of outstanding sports cars. Honda's most valuable and exciting sports car is of course the NSX, sold in the US under the Acura brand. While there are several things everyone forgot about the Acura NSX, no one forgot the fact that it is the best Honda ever made. The Acura NSX trumps the S2000 and the Civic Type R by a long shot.

10 Genesis

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Marketed in the US and Hong Kong under Honda's luxury division Acura, the Honda NSX is the sort of car with a very interesting backstory. Before the NSX was finally released in 1990, Honda worked tremendously hard to come up with the ultimate Japanese sports car. The resources invested in the development of the NSX led to the creation of Honda's most revered vehicle.

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There are numerous reasons why the original Honda NSX is the coolest JDM ever made. Originating from a prototype named the NS-X (New, Sportscar, eXperimental), the NSX that rolled off Honda's assembly lines took six years to design. The team of incredibly talented designers led by Masahito Nakano and Shigeru Uehara requested the input of Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna to come up with a final product that would become a true legend.

9 Beast Within

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There have been countless jokes about the worthiness of Honda's VTEC engine. It became such a thing that the phrase "when VTEC kicks in" became an inside joke among gearheads worldwide. While it is true that the VTEC found on older Civics is laughable, the engine in the NSX is far from a joke.

1991 Acura NSX Engine Cropped
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During the development of the NSX, engineers went with Honda's C20A 2.0-liter V6. With a power output of 143 hp at 6,500 rpm and 123 lb-ft of torque of 5,500 rpm, this simply was not enough for the decision makers at Honda. Since the NSX was meant to rival Italian and German cars of the time, Honda moved forward with the high-revving C30A 3.0-liter V6 that develops 270 hp at 7,300 rpm and 210 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. The NSX was in fact made to compete against the Ferrari 328 and 348.

8 Sporty Interior

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The NSX is marketed in the States under Acura, the luxury division of Honda. To most people that are familiar with Acura vehicles, it is well-known that they often come with potent engines, sleek designs, and interiors that are on par with some of the best German cars on the market. Honda understood from the get-go that the NSX would have to be under Acura in specific markets.

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Back in the early '80s, car interiors were not necessarily the main focus for Japanese automakers. However, by 1990 when upscale Japanese brands such as Acura, Lexus and Infiniti were on the market, interiors had gotten more luxurious. The NSX had leather sport seats and a dashboard that is both sporty and pleasant to look at.

7 Notable Owner

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Several legendary cars are often associated with celebrities or successful entrepreneurs. Those people have developed a liking to these cars for obvious reasons. James Dean and the Porsche 550 Spyder, Marilyn Monroe and the Ford Thunderbird, and Bill Gates with the Porsche 959 are some popular examples. However, it is rare to stumble across a famous personality that fell in love with a Japanese car.

RELATED: A Look Back At The 2003 Acura NSX-T

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The biggest and richest fan of the Acura NSX must be Larry Ellison. Founder of Oracle Corporation, Ellison has a net worth of $112 billion as of now. Despite being the owner of insane vehicles such as a McLaren F1 and an Audi R8. It has been rumored that Ellison also owns an NSX. However, Ellison's love for the NSX does not stop there. He gives NSXs to some of his closest friends as gifts.

6 Special Editions

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It is clear that the NSX is not the average Japanese car. A simple look at the NSX lets everyone know that it means business. Cars like the NSX usually undergo several upgrades, including limited editions that may one day be worth a bundle. As far as the NSX is concerned, Honda made sure to produce the right number of limited editions.

RELATED: Limited Series Acura NSX Zanardi Is A Supercharged Stunner

1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition (Red) - Side
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It is not surprising that the Alex Zanardi edition NSX was one of the most exclusive special edition NSXs ever made. First, the Zanardi was only made available in the United States, given the fact that Alex Zanardi won the CART IndyCar Championship in 1998 and 1999. Second, only 51 units were ever made. The Alex Zanardi NSX is one of the rarest street-legal special edition NSX.

5 Le Mans

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France may not be known for producing memorable sports cars, but it is home to emblematic racetracks such as Magny-Cours and Le Mans. The latter has earned the reputation of testing the most seasoned race-car drivers in the world. With a race that lasts a whopping 24 hours, the boundaries of both drivers and machines are being tested.

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The Honda NSX participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1994, 1995, and 1996. The NSX GT1 and GT2 were fitted with naturally aspirated and turbocharged C30A engines that produce respectively 400 hp and 600 hp. Despite not having won the legendary race, it was the very first time Honda participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, thus making the NSX a true trailblazer.

4 NSX: Reloaded

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The first NSX was worked on six years prior to its release, and it ended up being an epic success. When its production came to an end in 2005, it was unclear whether Honda would deprive JDM fans with fat pockets of the best Honda ever made or not. Unlike several American car manufacturers, Honda took ample time to bring something substantial to the table.

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There are several reasons why the new NSX is awesome. It is the sexiest sports car released by Honda since the original NSX. Though the new NSX may not be as jaw-dropping as a Bugatti Chiron, it is far more impressive than the R35 GT-R or the latest Supra. With an MSRP of $150,000, the second generation NSX is the supercar every gearhead with deep enough pockets should purchase.

3 New Generation Engine

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Back in 2016, the best powerplant offered by Acura to the general public was the 3.5-liter V6 found on the RLX. With a power output of 310 hp at 6,500 rpm and 272 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm, it was far from being your average Japanese car. The same year, the new NSX was brought back with a plethora of new technology. The new engine blew everyone's mind away.

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Granted, the NSX was brought back to life in 2016, it is quite normal that things drastically evolved. The C30A and C32B were things of the past. For the new NSX, Honda moved forward with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter JNC V6 combined with TMU electric motors that produce a total of 573 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque. While it may not seem like much to some, it is fair to underline that the NSX is part of the 500+ hp club.

2 Honda?

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The interior of the very first NSX went above and beyond every petrol head's expectations. It was classy, but still contained all the elements of a street-legal sports car. As a matter of fact, the first gen NSX's interior was on par with some of the nastiest high-end muscle cars on the market around that time. For the second generation, things became absolutely insane.

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Greatly inspired by the first generation NSX, the interior of the second gen NSX follows its elder's footsteps. With a cockpit that seems to have been taken from a high-end supercar, the NSX boasts an interior that would make any sports car lovers daydream. The sport seats are made of a combination of Alcantara and leather, which gives them a truly luxurious look. The analog gauges have been replaced by more en-vogue digital ones.

1 Cherry On Top

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Every single JDM fan is aware that Honda decided to once again discontinue the NSX. Despite having the choice between cars such as the new Nissan Z or the latest Toyota Supra, nothing comes close to the NSX and its wonderful attributes. For its last year, Honda made sure to release a version of the NSX that will most likely become a classic in years to come.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Acura NSX Type S

2022 Acura NSX Type S
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The 2022 Acura NSX Type S is the ultimate NSX. First introduced in 1997, Honda brought back the Type S for the most fortunate NSX lovers. The NSX that marks the end of an era comes with the same hybrid engine. This time around, the power output was increased to 600 hp and 492 lb-ft of torque. With an MSRP of $169,500, it is fair to assume that the Type S found buyers immediately.