Honda NSX supercar confirmed for New Zealand
Thursday, 8 March 2018
Honda's new NSX supercar is to be sold in New Zealand.
The 3.5-litre twin turbocharged V6-engine, triple-electric motor hybrid will be launched here in May, Honda New Zealand has announced. No prices have yet been confirmed, but it is expected the car will cost around $400,000.
Honda NZ marketing manager Nadine Bell said the decision to import the vehicle was the result of plenty of public inquiry since the world launch of the car more than a year ago.
'And for us it makes sense to import the NSX and build our reputation as a performance car brand,' he added. 'It will build on the success of the Civic Type-R, for which we've received more than 100 orders.'
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The Type-R might be an excellent hot hatch, but its performance credentials don't go anywhere near those of the new NSX. This one offers a total output via the twin-turbo V6 and all those electric motors of 427kW and 646Nm, and it can blast to 100kmh in less than three seconds.
This will be the seconnd-generation NSX.
The first version, which was developed with the assistance of the late F1 race drive Ayrton Senna, was launched in 1989 and made a major impact on the supercar segment via its all-aluminium monocoque body and chassis, and mid-mounted transverse V6 engine. The car also had all sorts of innovative production technologies including forged pistons, titanium connecting rods and VTEC valve train.
Honda had intended building a second-generation NSX some years ago, but the effects of the Global Financial Crisis put a halt to that.
But now there is a brand-new model, and it pursues an altogether new and revolutionary idea for Honda supercar performance, melding sports car values with next-generation technologies to create what the brand calls a New Sports eXperience.
Foremost is what Honda calls Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD), a first-of-its-kind technology in the supercar arena.
Honda says it amplifies the capabilities of every driver, and greatly elevates the dynamic experience in every driving situation.
Through Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, the NSX uses three hybrid electric motors to enhance and elevate every element of its performance - acceleration, braking and cornering.
With electrically powered torque vectoring provided by a front-mounted unit of twin electric motors, the NSX takes all-wheel drive technology to a new level – using the dynamic, instantaneous and continuous distribution of electric motor torque to enhance the precision of handling and cornering performance in all driving situations.
The new NSX is Honda's flagship model and the brand promises it is the ultimate expression of Honda's vision for sporty and advanced next-generation vehicles.