Teamspeed.com - Acura Reveals NSX Hybrid Concept

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Acura Reveals NSX Hybrid Concept
NSX Concept to be developed and built in America with new performance hybrid system

There was a nice symmetry about the unveiling of the Acura NSX concept by Honda CEO Takanobu Ito at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Twenty-five years ago the man who now heads the entire company was lead engineer on the team which created the original NSX.

‘That was the biggest engineering challenge of our lives,' said Ito. ‘The key attributes had to be power and weight, which is why we ended up making it out of aluminum.' The NSX, the first supercar from Japan, was revealed at the Tokyo show in 1989 and proved to be a game-changer.

It showed that supercars could be used every day without the histrionics often evident in its contemporary rivals, and could be driven just as easily by a professional racing driver or a grandmother. It forced a major rethink by established supercars brands such as Ferrari and Porsche.

The new model, although officially a concept, will be on sale around the world within three years, said Ito, and will be very similar to the car on show.

In a statement of intent to the American market, which is more important to Honda than even Japan, and a response to the over-valued yen, it will be developed by the company's engineering teams in the US and built at its plant in Ohio for all markets. It also demonstrates Honda's commitment towards sustainability at all levels, and to hybrids in particular, with a petrol-electric drive-train.

Like the previous NSX, it will have a mid-mounted V6 engine, this time with direct fuel injection, to drive the rear wheels, but also two electric motors mounted at the front to give it all-wheel drive. Honda calls the system SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive), and it can adjust the torque sent to each end on demand, driving through a twin-clutch paddle-shift transmission with built-in electric motor.

As with the previous NSX, it will not necessarily aim to be the most powerful supercar around, but will instead focus on performance through ‘engineering efficiency and light weight,' says Ito.

It will go on sale first in the US under Honda's Acura luxury sub-brand, and will come to Europe a little later - probably some time in 2014 - as a Honda. The car will be shown at Geneva in March wearing Honda badges.

About The Acura NSX Concept:

The dynamically-styled NSX Concept gives an indication of the next great performance vehicle from the Acura brand. Making use of lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine, the NSX Concept employs several new technologies for Acura, including application of Acura's innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel Drive™) hybrid system.

Utilizing a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a Bilateral Torque Adjustable Control System, the all-new hybrid all-wheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering. Acura anticipates the new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous AWD systems. In addition to the handling benefits of the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system, a powerful next-generation VTEC® V-6 engine with direct-injection works in concert with a dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.

"This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make NSX the ultimate expression of Acura's idea to create synergy between man and machine," said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way."

While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large engine, the NSX Concept champions the true racing philosophy of an extremely favorable power-to-weight ratio.

"Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency," added Ito, who led the development of Acura's first NSX supercar. "In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities."

The new Acura supercar, expected to debut in the next three years, will be developed by an engineering team led by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., and manufactured in Ohio, at a yet to be named facility.

Source [Acura]

Thanks to GTSpirit for the Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Jvnu2eY5M

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