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Auto Design Notes on the Acura NSX

By Ed Stubbs - December 1, 2016

in Cars

The long-awaited successor to the original NSX, launched in 1990. An impossible act to follow for many, due to Ayrton Senna's involvement in the car's development and because the 1990 car was technically ground-breaking in so many respects.

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1) Aggressive lower spoiler accelerates dramatically to the headlamps and really adds movement to the front face, bringing much-needed excitement to the surfacing.

2) Chrome finisher just under the hood feels a little like an afterthought, and the NSX is mid-engined, like the original: Does it need the grille?

3) Color-break theme around the NSX's nose continues with a separation around the base of the windshield, resulting in a floating A-pillar and an elegant, slender header over the side glass.

4) The header flows into a 'flying buttress,' floating away from the side glass. Cleverly blended into the rear wheel-arch panel, this carries a clear message; aerodynamic muscle.

5) Wheel design has an intricate graphic and a deep offset that reflects the NSX's image of technical precision.

6) Profile of the lower sill is an example of how difficult it is to resolve these surfaces in an automotive form. Exposed corners jar a little against the otherwise well-resolved surrounding forms, although they do add tension and drama.

Result

The NSX has a difficult brief: to recreate the drama of the original car, but in a very different and crowded market. It's a technical tour-de-force and has a compact, muscular presence that embodies Honda's precision engineering approach as well. Some of the detailing perhaps doesn't stack up against the competition from the likes of McLaren and Porsche, but it's a dramatic statement from a confident company.

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Charles Gordon

7 years ago

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Every new model from every manufacturer begs the same sad question - can you tolerate the design, is it not too bad? It sure wasn't that way when I saw the original NSX.

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Tim Cox

7 years ago

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If you'd shown me this without brand or model information I'd have guessed it was a Chevy design study.

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Sean Horita

7 years ago

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What was the first sports car to use that flying buttress? I'm thinking it was the Ferrari 599 but could be earlier. Lot of new supercars using that device to connect roof and fender, most notably on the new Ford GT.

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- Ed Stubbs
  
  Sean Horita
  
  7 years ago
  
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  I think you're right - at least one for Aero management. The solid buttress was around on all sorts of classics; Dino, Jaguar XJS etc Not so great for blind-spots!
  
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