The Acura NSX is a brilliant mid-engine hybrid that’s a blast to drive.
Perhaps one of the best things to come out of Ohio. Yeah, development and production of this
svelte machine was largely done in the mid-west then shipped worldwide for all to enjoy. Okay,
not all. Produced in limited number and starting at 159 grand, it required some effort to own one.
Then there’s this- Acura is closing out production of the second generation NSX with some drama,
a Type S variant. With more of everything, it represents peak NSX.
This really isn’t a review of the NSX, more of an appreciation. Besides if you
haven’t already ordered one of these, you can’t get one. They sold out in minutes.
We’re only doing a very limited number. We’ve got 300 total cars for the US market and then there’s
50 cars for the rest of the global market. So 350 in total they’re already all spoken for.
If you missed out and don’t have a wealthy friend that snagged one,
maybe try X-Box and Forza Motorsports.
Acura brought us to Sonoma Raceway (you might remember it as Sear’s Point) to push it hard.
And I can assure you, nothing’s more fun than track time in someone else’s car,
chewing up their expensive rubber.
But first Rob Keough charts the changes that turn a standard NSX into a Type S. Some highlights.
There are things about Type S that that are very important that we always have to have.
Improvements, like go, stop, and turn. Right? On the go portion of it we gave it more power,
this Type S version is pumped up to 600 hp and that’s both
with additional power from the internal combustion engine as well as additional electric output
from from the electric motors. For the engine side of it we put larger turbochargers sourced
from the GT3 race car program, so now on the Type S version of this car,
there’s more boost. So we got an additional 20 horsepower out of the engine. On the motor side,
basically we’re using more of the battery capacity, we’re able to put more let’s say
electric power to the car but we’re also extending that I’d say the range capability. On the front
track it’s 10 mm wider than the than the NSX base version of the car, and the rear track is
20 mm wider. We’ve got new Pirelli P Zero tires developed exclusively for this car so there is an
OE mark on this tires exclusively for Type S. We change the ratio in the front twin motor unit,
we call it the TMU, it’s a dual motor system on the front axle,
we can actually do torque vectoring on the front axle. From the standpoint of
overall performance, you’ve got a lightweight package where we combined all the carbon bits
on this car. The carbon ceramic brakes, together with all the other previously optional carbon
equipment it’s about 58 pounds lighter. So go, stop, and turn for Type S, it passes all of that
The interior gets some material upgrades here and
there, that’s good because it was always a shortcoming of the NSX.
Same with the user interface. Keep in mind I find it better than any McLaren
All right time to drive. I’ve always wanted to drive this course ever since
I’ve been a kid. I’ve driven past it probably 100 times let’s do it.
I’ve heard it’s tough, full of blind turns during elevation changes.
We’re on radio
This is a lead-follow situation and we get two laps. Two.
Kind of disappointing but two more than I’ll have ever done so there’s that. Type S gets a
new front fascia for better aerodynamics and breathing. Also the rear is reworked tool
I always forget this is a hybrid. A really fun hybrid.
Remember, the V-6, nine-speed dual-clutch gear box, and an electric motor manage the
rear wheels. Two electric motors drive the fronts. It’s good for 0-60 sprints in just
under 3 seconds. Though we won’t be doing those kinds of runs today.
So I’m not going to talk much to the camera because you really need to focus on this track.
Holly cow. Man oh man oh man. This is a pretty challenging track. Hard to see in
a lot of places. Lots of blind corners. I should have practiced on a vide game before I did this.
Wish I had more exterior running footage
to show you body dynamics. Track safety means I can’t good angles.
Whoa, yeay! Ha! It sounds good. It sounds really good. Very nicely controlled. Wow, great grip.
Holly cow, awesome grip.
Increased torque give the Type S excellent throttle response.
Whoa, I’m at… 120… and breaking hard.
This course demands hammering the brakes at times, the carbon ceramic disks shrug off the abuse.
I got to say this is a good day at work. Obviously there are paddle shifters. I don’t think I can
out-think this transmission, it’s always in the right gear. Plus, I have a lot to concentrate on.
Wow, there is just so much elevation change on this course and that means a lot of blind corners.
And that’s what makes it fun.
The special rubber has the right feel when pushed hard in and out of turns.
And just like that, my fun draws to a close.
Well, sorry I wasn’t quite chatty but this is a tough course. The car? The car makes it easy,
this is incredible. Too bad these are all sold out because this is an awesome car.
I have to wonder how many of the 350 NSX Type S’ will be flogged on the track. Seems like
so many buyers are tucking rare performance machines away as investments. Kind of a shame.
There are some body changes to the Type S. Again, here’s Rob.
What’s really noticeable in this car is the all new front end on the car, more dynamic,
more aggressive looking. You’ll notice that the hood looks longer and lower because it is. Ee
actually stretched out the front end here, the A Mark used to be up here on the hood, we actually
extended out the front end this comes lower and more to point. The A Mark is out way out. In front
we went with larger openings in the grill with really kind of like sharp cut lines. The first
time that we have done matte paint and production for Acura. And the first time I saw this car oh
my, it’s like a stealth fighter. We’ve got carbon fiber all around, in the standard NSX some of the
carbon fiber bits were optional. In this car it’s kind of full carbon exterior package,
front splitter, side skirts rear diffuser, carbon roof is standard. And for the US market
the carbon rear spoiler is standard as well. It just looks cool. In addition to that if you
get the lightweight package, you get the carbon ceramic brakes, you get the carbon engine cover
and you get the carbon interior package as well. 90% of all the orders came in that way so this
is this is the way you’ll see the car. We’ve got a GT3 inspired rear diffuser on this car
so this is a massive sculpture of carbon fiber down here, with strakes under the car and that
helps aerodynamic flow management. We built about 2,500 cars total so all the cars that are non Type
S up to that point have this badge but we’ve revise his badge exclusively for the Type S
version and can see it says Type S on it. And the format is basically it will be 001 through 350 for
the global markets. The US cars are getting 001 to 300 and then the other markets are getting numbers
301 through 350. And of course certain customers were like, yeah my favorite number is eight,
yes, so low low numbers are popular. But I’m sure number 350 is very
very popular too. Or number 300 for our market so that’s designated on the engine cover design.
For the engine cover you see the red accent on the motor plenum only the Type S has that red access.
Something we’ve traditionally done on some of the performance cars from Honda and Acura before
is red engine cover because it’s a part you can see. In the engine intake plenum, that’s marked
as red and that represents the higher performance engine in this car. And that’s exclusive too.
Too bad they’re all sold out because I ‘d buy one. Yeah, right, yes I can afford this car.
So there you go, up close and personal with the last of the second generation Acura NSX.
Personally I feel this car has been underrated and overlooked. I know Chevrolet Corvette C8
has the bang for the buck factor and a Porsche 911 will always be the de facto choice when it
comes to heritage. For those lucky enough to snag a Type S, enjoy. You have something beautiful,
capable and rare. The only way to fully realize that? Give it a go on the track.
As I always disclose, Acura brought us to Sonoma Raceway as part of an event that included a
drive in the MDX Type S. Which is a little more practical and obtainable than the NSX.
Well, we’ve introduced three models in a row here, NSX the TLX and the MDX. So yeah,
the workhorse for us just got this variant and every single one is very exciting to drive. So
yeah it’s in our lineup, the Type S, we’ve been promoting it,
it’s become a brand to itself. I believe that people are out there enjoying to
There’s a new Integra coming, seems like that’s a no-brainer for the Type
S treatment. I asked and got the “we don’t comment on future product” line.
So you go, that is my all to brief experience with the Acura NSX
Type S. I will leave you with a fun fact and it involves the badging.
The Acura A Mark brand logo marks on this car are in a gloss black. You will not see any other Honda
factory gloss black badge coming from the factory, only the PMC, or the Performance Manufacturing
Center in Ohio where the NSX is built. They’re the only factory that has the permission
when altering the logo, which is normally chrome. Only PMC cars have permission to go black
and we just wanted to do that because of course it looks sinister and cool. So
if you see any car that wasn’t built at PMC then it’s you know it’s after application.
Thanks for watching, remember this is different from the regular car reviews that I do,
a little bit of fun. Subscribe! I’m on Twitter follow me there. And you can leave me a message in
the comments, I’m good about getting back to people. That’s Driven, I’m Tom Voelk.