Rebirth of an Icon: Next Generation Acura NSX Unveiled
Acura takes the wraps off its highly anticipated next-generation NSX supercar, designed to deliver a groundbreaking “New Sports eXperience”
Hot-selling Acura RDX luxury crossover boosts its considerable market strength with significant upgrades to performance, luxury, styling and safety features
TORONTO, ON (February 12, 2015) – Twenty-five years after the debut of the original, paradigm-shifting NSX supercar, Acura revealed the production version of its highly anticipated successor—the next-generation Acura NSX, developed and produced in North America, to Canada’s auto media at the 2015 Canadian International Auto Show today. The production model, in a scintillating NSX red finish, took the stage with a growl from its twin-turbocharged engine.
The next generation NSX showcases the production styling, design and specifications of Acura’s mid-engine sports hybrid supercar, and Acura announced key details of the all-new vehicle’s design and performance. The company will begin accepting custom orders for the new NSX starting in the summer, with customer deliveries expected later in the year.
Specifically created to bring a “new sports experience” to the supercar segment, the NSX challenges conventional beliefs about supercars — much as the first generation did a quarter century ago. The approach is realized through an all-new power unit—a twin-turbocharged 75-degree DOHC V6 engine with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and three-electric motor Sport Hybrid system—integrated with an ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material body with world’s-first material applications and manufacturing processes. Developed under the concept of a “human-centered supercar,” a car that puts the driver first in every aspect of its design, the next-generation NSX will leverage its state-of-the-art hybrid supercar power unit, body and chassis to deliver exceptionally intuitive and immediate response to driver inputs.
“Our commitment was to create an all-new NSX that is true to the heritage of NSX—a supercar that delivers a new driving experience, one where every part of the vehicle is respectful of the smartest part of the car, the driver,” said Jerry Chenkin, President and CEO, Honda Canada Inc. “The soul of a car is the emotional connection it makes with the driver. With the NSX, that connection will be intense and immediate.”
As the pinnacle representation of Acura performance and prestige, the NSX was introduced at the auto show under the theme of “Precision Crafted Performance.” The theme was the original tagline for the Acura brand, a guiding force behind the development of the original NSX and a critical component of its launch.
The development of next-generation NSX, driven by precision crafted performance, has resulted in a clean-sheet design, which involved nearly three years of intensive development effort by a global design and engineering team led by engineers at the company’s development centre in Raymond, Ohio.
New Production Facility
The NSX will be manufactured exclusively at the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, where approximately 100 highly-skilled associates will conduct full body construction, paint, and final assembly using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
The PMC and its processes have been developed to perfectly blend associate craftsmanship and technology in a new approach to manufacturing. By in-housing the body construction, Acura maintains complete control over total body quality, including critical strength, suspension accuracy, and fit and finish—from initial construction all the way to final assembly.
Associates will utilize innovative techniques to deliver next-generation craftsmanship and world-class quality in the realm of specialized, supercar vehicle production.
2016 Acura RDX
Coming off its best-ever year, the newly refreshed and energized 2016 Acura RDX luxury sport-utility also made its Canadian debut at the Canadian International Auto Show, sporting a host of significant upgrades to performance, luxury prestige and styling.
Launching at Acura dealerships nationwide this spring, the 2016 Acura RDX receives Jewel Eye™ LED projector headlamps and LED taillights, a new, more powerful 3.5-litre i-VTEC® V-6 engine, and class leading safety is brought to the RDX with standard AcuraWatch™ safety and driver-assistive technologies, and a host of new luxury features and technologies, including a new line-topping RDX with Elite Package.
The Acura RDX and MDX have formed a potent 1-2 punch in the luxury SUV game, both posting record sales in 2014. With the 2016 MDX also getting significant new features and technologies including standard AcuraWatch safety features, and a 9-speed automatic transmission, the new RDX and MDX stand as an even more formidable presence in the luxury SUV space.
“The RDX ended on a high note in 2014, posting its best sales year ever, but at Acura, we are not content in resting on our laurels,” said Jerry Chenkin, President and CEO, Honda Canada Inc. “The 2016 RDX gets a major infusion of Acura brand DNA including enhancements to styling, driving performance, and exciting new luxury feature-content, further solidifying its place as the one to beat in the entry luxury SUV segment.”
The 2016 RDX gets an important performance boost courtesy of its updated 3.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) cylinder deactivation technology. Peak horsepower and torque output are up—279 (+6 hp) and 252 lb.-ft. (+1 lb.-ft.), respectively, while sporting a broader torque curve for more immediate and powerful acceleration response—right where it counts. Variable Cylinder Management™ allows for deactivation of two of the engine’s six cylinders under light engine loads. Driving refinement is further enhanced by new active front and rear engine mounts, updates to the steering control system and increased suspension mount stiffness. Additionally, the RDX’s all-wheel-drive system – AWD with Intelligent Control – has been tuned for greater rear torque bias to further enhance dynamic stability and all-weather performance.
The 2016 RDX also gets key elements of Acura design DNA with restyled front and rear fascia, including the addition of Acura’s signature Jewel Eye™ LED headlights and LED taillights with light-pipe design on all models and a new three-dimensional grille treatment. The lower front and rear fascia areas also support the new look with fresh luxury details while all models receive new wheel designs.
For More Information
Consumer information about Acura is available at acura.ca. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/AcuraCanada. Additional media information including detailed features and high-resolution photography of the Acura model line is available at acuranews.ca.
About Acura
Acura is the luxury-performance division of Honda Canada Inc. The Acura lineup features five distinctive models including the RLX luxury performance sedan, the TLX luxury sports sedan, the ILX compact luxury sedan, the RDX luxury crossover SUV and the MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.