How Miserably Is The New Acura NSX Going To Fail As A Supercar?

Yes, as an Acura loyalist, I will have to admit that the NSX won't fail as a car, but it has the potential to fail as a halo car. If Acura does offer higher-performing models, then the NSX will have zero impact on the brand. If anything, it might have a negative impact. That being said, it has been alluded to on several different occasions that Acura will offer more enthusiast-oriented offerings, so we will see.

For the sake of competition I hope it doesn't fail, every time I think of Acura I go back to the golden years of the Legend and Integra...had soooo much potential. Come on Acura Wake Up

The JDM fanboys will buy it, but only them.

The magazines will crown it a game changer as they did with the last one that in no way changed the game.

Porsche, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Audi, Corvette, et. al. who build high-dollar sports cars won't worry about it for a second.

The Acura name does not have enough prestige or gravitas to make the NSX credible.

Acura needs to earn its sports car stripes the hard way: from the bottom up.

It will do NOTHING to elevate Acura because the rest of the Acura line is Mercury-ized Hondas.

Had this been cast as a Corvette fighter with a sub $60K base like a Corvette, then the NSX could have really been something because it would have had competition.

It would not surprise me if a Corvette ZR1 and the conventional 911 are better at the track for less.

Absolutely agree, M.

This car will most definitely be a huge sales failure, just like how the first NSX was, and it will most definitely not sell well like the Nissan GT-R. And it will most likely be forgotten into history like the Lexus LFA was lol!

I don't care if this car was designed and built in the United States, as long as it carries around the name "Honda" or "Acura".

But I'm pretty sure this car will sell mostly to the people who are too jealous of super expensive and ultra luxurious European luxury/super cars and love saying crap about America.

And probably they are also the fans of Japanese anime, too lol!

Check for the "End Days"... I'm agreeing with MDarringer (+1).

I'd like to also add that when a manufacturer surprises us with a new car, we'll often review it with a fairly open mind. In Acura's case, they've been hyping the New NSX for what... a decade now? They've burnt out any surprise or goodwill most of us would have towards the car, and to make matters worse, now the real thing (when it actually shows up in showrooms) will pale compared to the hype.

What ever happened to JDM?

JDM is no longer here. Trolling is over.

I seriously disagree that the first NSX was not a game changer... it absolutely was. Prior to the NSX people would put up with a steering wheel that was vertical, with super cars that were in the shop 2 weeks a month etc... because these were the only games in town. The NSX really put a focus in Ferrari and others to make super cars a much more reasonable proposition, with comfortable interiors, reasonable quality etc...

Agree with the rest of your comments though :)

valhallakey writes "...I seriously disagree that the first NSX was not a game changer..."

I would classify the original NSX as "noteworthy in its own way," but not a game changer. As you correctly note, the NSX was well behaved, had reasonable build quality, few defects, and unlike many sports cars, it stayed out of the shop. These are characteristics that aren't typically associated with "sports car."

On the other hand, it did have its quirks, like A/C that was challenged with anything more than a warm summer day, as was typical for Honda in the day. Also, the 270 hp V6 (later 290 hp) was lacking. I had one for a day, and by the end of the day, I handed back the keys and said "no thanks." I somehow expected more than what the NSX delivered, even though it was a fine car.

I readily admit the NSX was a fine car, and it blended sport and reliability nicely. But it didn't wow me, like I wish it would. Perhaps if the price tag had been lower, I would have been more impressed.

@GMCadillac

The GTR is a dreadful seller. Have you ever had the change to drive one? Yes, it will produce amazing numbers, but it feels like the software is busy correcting for lack of know how in sports car tuning.

I'm not much of a Porsche fan, but the 911 is a software hound like the GTR, except that the Porsche feels like it has no software. It's a much better feel for the price of a GTR.

I suspect the NSX will be technically excellent and will produce numbers, but the driving satisfaction it delivers will be bested by "lesser" and less costly cars like the Corvette ZR1 and the 911.

I would love to see the Shelby Mustang GT350R pitted against the NSX. I suspect the Mustang will be surprisingly adept.

Even in terms of design, Mustang GT350R looks far more appealing.

And no, never really driven a GT-R before, but after hearing a lot of things about it, I don't think I really want to even bother.

Big time failure...one year's production will sell out then hit the skids. Overpriced (too many other options with greater heritage and panache) and design looks ten years old already.

Well-I think they priced it too high. Acura was originally going with a less expensive NA engine to compete with the Corvette, lower end Porsches and Jaguars on price. But at over 150 grand it is so far removed from the mainstream products. Further it's front end styling is merely mimicking current Acura's. It is not leading a new styling direction at all. The NSX should have been priced in the 60 to 100 grand range. It should have introduced a new styling direction. Therefore by definition it cannot really be a "halo" car.

If Acura wants performance credability, I'd say:

Do an "MR2" with a 2.0T for $27K for a well-equipped base car. Let's name it RSX.

Dump the ILX and replace it with an Integra in sedan and coupe form. I'd make it available in FWD and AWD forms with a fire-breathing turbo version. With the idiots at Mitsubishi dumping the EVO, Acura's Civic should be aimed at the Subaru Impreza WRX.

Do an "S2000" in coupe and convertible form with a 2.0T base well-equipped at $33K. The "up" engine option is a twin-turbo V6. Let's call it FSX.

Replace the TLX with a Legend (because it's similar in size to the old Legend) in FWD and AWD forms for a $36K well-equipped base. The up version would be a twin-turbo V6 that is like what a Subaru Legacy WRX would be.

Replace the RLX with a named sedan (please not Vigor) aimed at a $45k price for a well-equipped base with a naturally aspirated V6. AWD and twin-turbo V6 would be available. The would be the "WRX" of the lucrative mid-sized, premium sedan market.

The NSX comes in at $57K with a twin-turbo V6 in RWD form. AWD is an up charge. The range topper is a V8 turbo AWD variant.

Sedans and coupes get names

Sports cars get letters

Ditch the beak.

Styling has to be like you're getting Lamborghini or Ferrari exotic styling for "real-person" prices.

Screw hybrid. Screw aluminum. Screw carbon fiber. Produce damn-good, real cars that do not rely on bullspit and mirrors for pseudoexcellence.

I'm down with the plan, however 3 dedicated sports cars for a company in Axura's condition might be one car too far. I would go with the MR2 at 27k and NSX at 60+k.

Look at all those desperate deboosts on anyone who doesn't like this chopstick box with the wheels that was probably made with radioactive Fukushima materials.

The thing is, Acura, Infiniti and Lexus, they all should be making 20,000 dollar "luxury" cars, instead of aiming higher for no reason. No one finds "Japanese" luxurious in any possible way, and that is the reason why the first NSX was a sales failure, so is the R35 GT-R. What kind of a moron would choose a Nissan Sunny...sorry, typo, I meant to say Nissan GT-R, when you can buy yourself a Porsche 911? Or save some cash and get a Corvette?


You want heritage? Prestige? Respect? Luxury? And you are able to spend more than 150,000 dollars? Then obviously what you want is the European luxury. You deserve, the best.

You want something cheaper? But absolutely great performance? And feeling a little bit patriotic? Then definitely American. I mean, why the f, should anyone buy this NSX or whatever the hell it is called, when you can get a frigging Corvette + maintenance costs for all that money.


And lastly, you like Fukushima? Anime? Manga? Pokémon? And possibly a fan of the movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift? Then you will love this Honda Civic with the ricer mods!...uh, sorry, typo, I meant to say Acura NSX. Well, I guess they both are not all that different lol

Someone is letting their bigotry slip out just a tad eh?

@Sciros "bigotry" is the best response you can give when the facts stomp the crap out of your position.

Anyone who thinks the first NSX wasn't a game changer doesn't know squat about the auto industry.

The first modern sports car with all aluminum construction. The first car with full variable valve timing. The V6 made 90hp per liter. What other NA motor from 1990 could touch that? None.

It's handling is legendary - honed by none other than the great Ayrton Senna. It could dance circles around any contemporary Ferrari or Porsche.

It's ridiculous to state that this iconic car wasn't a game changer and any serious automotive journalist would surely agree.

As for the new NSX, I predict similar greatness - and similar foolish reactions from the usual suspects.

runninglogan1: The term "Game Changer" implies that somehow, the "game" was changed. Which game? For whom?

Acura "sold" the original NSX from August 1990 to November 2005, but never in any meaningful numbers. "Trickled out" would be a more accurate term than "sold." They moved a grand total of 8,949 units worldwide. That's an average of 597/year, but if you take the initial year's pent-up demand into account and see it as an anomaly, that's a MEDIAN of just 284 units/year. (http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Production_Numbers)

While Acura did create a sports car that could also be used as a comfortable daily drive, its impact on Acura was negligible. People might cite the NSX's variable valve timing and 90hp/liter, and even the futuristic (and attractive) styling for the era, but so what? It's extremely hard to make the case that without the NSX, other manufacturers would not have broken 100hp/liter, or adopted variable valve timing, or built sports cars that can also be daily drivers (i.e., NSX being the "game changer.") Acura didn't even leverage the attractive styling and have it cross over to their other models. So what game did it change?

The sad reality is that the original NSX was noteworthy, but it didn't have a meaningful positive impact on the auto industry in general, or Honda/Acura specifically. It didn't actually change anyone's game, and so it became a footnote in automotive history.

It was almost 2008 before Acura decided to do something with NSX name, and they announced they're working on the NSX II, but that became an on-again-off-again project as Acura navigated tough economic times. And here we are, almost 8 years after the announcement of NSX II, and almost 8 years into the ongoing hype, and we're still waiting for the alleged "game changer" to show up in showrooms! With an estimated price tag of $155,000, you'd better be a rabid Acura fan with deep pockets, because other, more worthy and less expensive cars will attract far more buyers than the NSX II.

It took too long to come....but won´t fail ...anyone that really knows about great cars know that...

Yonder7: It all depends on how you define "fail."

If "success" means...
- Selling in meaningful numbers
- Turning a profit (i.e., NSX revenue - NSX expenses = NSX profit)
- Increasing Acura's profitability through sales of other vehicles
...then I don't believe you'll see it.

But if "success" to you means turning out a car that Acura fans will adore, even though very few of them will actually buy one, then yeah, it'll be "successful."

(Acura fans who are pissed by the points I make, please press the down-arrow below to show attendance. We want to make sure all 12 of you are still with us ;-)

It Will be successful in this sense: Will show the great Acura/Honda Engineering, Will give more prestige to Acura/Honda, and last but not least, will be an object of cult and a collectible. Regarding Sales, it may fail but I do not think that they did it for profit as main objective but for prestige and give to the brand a prestige halo. Other Examples of the same object are the MB SLR, MB SLS, BMW Z8 (which for "me" score behind the first nsx), LFA , etc..

@Yonder7...no one is clamoring to get the last NSX. It and the next NSX will be footnotes like the Toyota 2000GT. Pretty maybe, but definitely not taken seriously.

This car looks amazing but i'm already tired of it.

It is now 2017 June and I have not seen one NSX on the road. I see so many of them available but they aren't just selling. Price tag at $200K, I would not buy a "Honda" that has nothing fantastic. I'd settle for a McLaren 570S or 570 GT to add to my collection if my budget is $200K. All the new technologies and nine yard seemed to be great but the car is not moving at all. Why people aren't buying this beautiful car?

There are so many other exotics out there at that price point. When first generation of NSX came out, it hit performance, reliability, exotic and price. Ferrari had Testarossa, 348 and F40 and all of them were at least twice expensive as NSX. There aren't many exotics out there. Unless NSX is around $100K loaded, people will not take it IMHO. There are too many options out there. McLaren, R8, Aston Martin, almost new Ferrari Cali will fall into this price range. Nissan put the GT-R in the right price range and it sold... Simple. Overpriced for nothing great... I thought about NSX but am heading to other direction... Spend a little more for a 488 or a 458 Speciale for Ferraris, a brand new 570S would be better choice.