rai

[QUOTE=PedalFaster,Jul 17 2005, 10:06 PM] That's all well and good, but at $90k, the NSX wasn't exactly a mass-market car...

I wonder how well an updated NSX could do today, even if it had 400 hp.

JonBoy

I kind of agree. If they keep the price moderate (but power high), they should be able to go for the mid-level sports car buyers that are looking for in import sports car to perform as well as a Vette, just with a little more class and panache.

No one can "out-Corvette" a Corvette so I think targeting the Vette would be dumb. However, there isn't much else in the $45K-$50K market so people are stuck with buying used sports/sporty cars (M3, perhaps) or stepping up another level to a Porsche or something. If Acura offered something in that price range, I think they'd have a decent market for it.

lyndon_h

I guess it would sell decently, but I think it has to have a more than 300hp to sell in the 50's UNLESS it is a luxury sport car (like the Lexus SC, if you can include the word "sport" in the same sentence)

I think they need it to have close to 400 hp if it is going to be a sports car. It must compete hp wise (not performance wise) with the new M3. I know the M3 is expected to cost close to 65k (maybe more), but that is the cost of being a "lower prestige nameplate", you have to deliver more for cheaper or people will take their dollars upstream.

The problem that i see is that Honda likes to do ground breaking things with their special cars. But honestly the Z06 has put them (and alot of automakers) in a corner. The new NSX will probably not be able to out perform the C6Z06 unless it is alot more expensive. It will probably not be able to be considerably lighter unless it is alot more expensive or if it were really small. Remember, our car is almost 2800lbs with a 4banger.

The Hoth

Why Acura insists on competing with the likes of Porsche and Ferrari (well over 400hp) with its V6 (~300hp) is beyond me. Ok the NSX is lighter... but you can't bring a knife to a gun fight, can you?

Make something like ~400hp and then you're talking about a real contender this time.

Hey, the 280hp limitation has been removed, right? Let's see what those Honda engineers can do.

05lbbpNSX

If for some reason they did a V8 they could borrow technology/ideas from their racing engines (KART etc)
That would make for some interesting ass whoppings

steven975

when the NSX came out, the V6 did compare favorably with the exotic competition. The continued to make the NSX because they could sell enough to do small production runs.

Honda ain't dumb. they know they need more power to compete at the 90K level. I believe the following are all options:
1. V8; Development for this could spin off to the Pilot, MDX, or Ridgeline
2. Turbo; Honda has a lot of turbo expertise
3. Hybrid drivetrain; the batteries in hybrids are in the 40 pound area, and electric motors deliver consistent power at any RPM.

Perhaps even a combo of 2 or 3 of the above.

BioBanker

I just plan on supercharging mine - which will bring it up to snuff and when you consider that (1) it sells for WAY cheaper than MSRP, and (2) its depreciation (at least so far) is much less than a similarily priced 911, I will have a car with 400ishHP with the reliability I need and cost of ownership thats inline with what you'd expect.

Its NOT a $90K car ppl. They sell for $70K to $73K.

BioBanker

server dbl posted me.

The Hoth

Just curious. Would a supercharged NSX run 0-60 under 5 sec?

Lice Locket

Huh? The doesn't the current NSX runs a 0-60 in 4.8 seconds? A supercharged NSX BETTER be able to run faster!