Acura's NSX To Compete Against BMW's i8 - Is This REAL Competition Or A Lamb To The Slaughter?

The new NSX has a “three-motor, twin-turbocharged sport hybrid power unit,” Acura says in the release announcing the upcoming Detroit debut. No further details were given about the hybrid setup.

Reports in the automotive press suggest that the NSX will incorporate a version of the hybrid-electric powertrain from the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD sedan. The RLX hybrid features a V6 engine powering the front wheels and two electric motors powering the rear wheels. Total output is 377 horsepower.

In the NSX, the engine is in the back, so the system would have to be reversed, with the gasoline engine for the rear wheels and the electric motors for the front wheels. Adding twin turbochargers to the RLX hybrid’s V6 engine would boost output considerably. Some speculate the new hybrid powertrain will be capable of producing more than 500 horsepower.

MDarringer - 12/19/2014 4:37:44 PM

-3 Boost

It's Honda's BS hubris talking. Acura needs to earn its reputation as a maker of sports cars by doing an "S2000" coupe and roadster aimed at the FRS. A GT aimed at the sweet spot of the Mustang GT /370Z price range would be logical. Above that a Corvette /911 competitor. Going straight for the stratosphere means that their will be no halo effect on the Acura Civic, the Acura Accord, the Acura SuperAccord, the Acura CRV, and the Acura Pilot.

Taking Acura RWD is necessary.

quizz - 12/20/2014 6:44:39 PM

0 Boost

Agreed. It had a shot with the CRZ and totally bombed that one: slow and bad MPG?? WTH. At least it came with a manual, but that alone is not enough to make the CRZ an appealing two seater. Hopefully, they learned why the CRZ failed.

chewy - 12/19/2014 9:44:50 PM

+5 Boost

From the rumored specs it's gotta be quite a bit ahead of the i8 performance and acceleration wise. The M3 spanks the i8 pretty good.

quizz - 12/20/2014 6:15:49 PM

-1 Boost

i8 will be second generation in terms of working out the bugs/firmware/battery/transmission programs by the time the Acura comes out, so it will definitely be a great head to head.

IhavearedS2000 - 12/20/2014 6:19:20 PM

+2 Boost

It will be out on the road by fall 2015, will the i8 have a FMC by then?

quizz - 12/20/2014 6:52:39 PM

0 Boost

What makes the i8 so awesome is its balance/weight due to its innovative carbon fiber reinforced plastic monocoque chassis. If Honda provides a similarly balanced structure, the powertrain takes care of itself. I've read most of the i8 reviews and the handling sounds absolutely stunning as either a daily driver or track car.

Competition is good. If Honda can price the NSX below the i8, it will have a winner. Pricing it above the i8, and I predict the i8 will outsell it.

IhavearedS2000 - 12/20/2014 7:03:23 PM

+3 Boost

Well the original NSX was renowned for its excellent balance and not for our-right power, so hopefully version 2.0 will continue the tradition. When Honda sports cars have competed with BMW, they aren't actually put to shame - Z3 vs S2000 for example.

That being said, I'd be surprised if Honda actually will make more than 1000 NSX's per year, I've heard rumors that it will be more like 2-300 per year to keep it much more exclusive than the original.

I will be surprised if the i8 will have a full model make over by the time the NSX is on the road...

w222 - 12/21/2014 9:32:27 PM

+6 Boost

The i8 that has caught fire multiple times? That car doesn't deserve to be in the same sentence as the NSX. what a joke...I've seen the i8 in real life.. it's ugly to the core. The only thing it should be compared with is a garbage collecting truck.. or the Pontiac Aztek... same thing