Wednesday 14th January 2015

NSX worth the wait? PH Blog

After all the build-up why was the NSX overshadowed by Ford's GT at Detroit?

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There was a cruel moment on the first press day at the Detroit show. Just as the production NSX was being unveiled on the Acura stand, the Ford GT was being moved onto the Ford stand nearby. And a fair percentage of the watching hacks’ heads moved with it – turning from the brand new, and long awaited, sports car sitting on stage in front of them, to the previously unannounced one that was passing in the distance.

Like a GTA fictionalised sports car?

Of course, home team advantage and all that. And this year’s Detroit show is definitely going to be remembered as the place we first saw the GT. But I also found myself wondering if it was a moment that demonstrated the awkward truth that the NSX really doesn’t seem as exciting as it should be.

That was true of the original concept three years ago. And now the finished article is equally lacking in sports car venom. The side profile is okay – a bit Audi R8ish – but from front or rear it’s very generic. And, yes, slightly dull. It looks like one of those half recognisable almost cars from a Grand Theft Auto game.

The GT was the complete opposite. The biggest problem at Detroit was actually getting a chance to see it through the throng. During both press days it seemed to be permanently surrounded by a crowd of admirers, some of who were even senior execs from rival carmakers. I know the GT is a very different car to the NSX; it will be pricier and aimed at more senior competition for starters. But don’t forget that both of these cars have been created for the same reason, to demonstrate new technologies and reflect some glory onto their respective ranges. The Ford screams that with the bravado you’d expect. The NSX – on first impressions – is mumbling.

NSX should have been the big story...

This is all making me sound very shallow, isn’t it? The proof for both cars will be in the way they drive. And there’s no doubting that the NSX’s exotic spec sheet reads like the engineering team have spent the last three years doing at least one impossible thing before breakfast every day. One way of looking at it is, as a commentator on our original show story put it, basically a Porsche 918 Spyder for not much more than a tenth of the money.

Yet there’s an equal amount of be said in favour of Ford’s simpler approach. The GT has to demonstrate the power and the flexibility of the Ecoboost V6, but beyond that nothing has been allowed to compromise performance. Hence a car that’s wide, slippery and is going to have huge aero. And one that will be going to Le Mans.

I’d love Honda to prove me wrong but the new NSX seems a bit too Zen to go racing. I certainly wouldn’t bet against it being better to drive than it is to look at – despite being developed in the States under the Acura brand, Honda remains an engineering-led company. So fingers crossed – but sports cars should have a bit of swagger as well.

Mike Duff

[vz-r_dave]

I love the look, the proportions are almost perfect. If you take the original NSX for example, that was quite reserved when you lined it up with the Ferrari's and Lambo's of the time. So not much has changed in that regard. I agree that the GT is on another planet but for me this is by no means underwhelming. Look forward to seeing it on track as I am sure it will be fantastic. I guess we await the R version, challenger to the big dogs

Edited by vz-r_dave on Wednesday 14th January 13:35

[vz-r_dave]

k-ink said:

Not exactly exciting and sexy is it. More like a corporate extension to other saloons on the way...

My word, a manufacturer uses the same design philosophy across it's current range..... shock horror. Audi R8.....

[vz-r_dave]

MarshPhantom said:

The last one was hardly a big hit, despite the links with Senna. Can't see this doing too well.

Why?

[vz-r_dave]

bigaoi said:

PhillipM said:

To be honest, if you hadn't told me it was the new NSX, then at a glance that photo I would have assumed to be some bland corperate jap saloon and skipped over it.

Yeah right ...

Hilarious what people come up with eh. Typical PH comments.

[vz-r_dave]

exceed said:

Also is anyone missing the fact that this is essentially the competitor for the BMW i8?

It looks like it will be in the same price bracket and imo it trumps the i8 is all areas including tech!

[vz-r_dave]

RDMcG said:

No idea how good it is, but ,like the McLaren when it was introduced, it does seem somewhat generic. I have not warmed to the appearance of either, but obviously the real answers will be when it gets a few comprehensive road tests. Based purely on the intro, found it a mild yawn.

Yet you seem to love the ever so unique Porsche range?? How on earth can you find this a mild yawn when it seems you have shares in one of the dullest looking and reserved manufactures in this segment?

[vz-r_dave]

SpeckledJim said:

vz-r_dave said:

MarshPhantom said:

The last one was hardly a big hit, despite the links with Senna. Can't see this doing too well.

Why?

Because sales is a function of badge x sex appeal.

Good isn't really in the equation.

And the links with Senna don't really mean anything. The best chassis engineer in the world is a chap we'll never hear about, but he'll be much better at making a sports car drive well than Ayrton Senna would have been.

Your argument makes no sense when you consider the likes of the GTR which has neither badge kudos (in it's segment) or sex appeal.

[vz-r_dave]

juicy sushi said:

MB 1 said:

The biggest failing is making it under the Acura brand, and making it in the US.

Massive mistake.

They have a massive engineering and R&D operation in the US, build a lot of their cars there, and have a racetrack very close buy, which they own, and are able to use as needed to develop the car. It made total sense, especially since they're Japanese R&D facilities are spending most of their time focusing on fuel cell development and the like.

PH the forum where people make bold statements without any knowledge what so ever.... thanks for the insight.

Perhaps they are looking to leverage the NSX to boost/introduce the brand into Europe?

[vz-r_dave]

vz-r_dave said:

juicy sushi said:

MB 1 said:

The biggest failing is making it under the Acura brand, and making it in the US.

Massive mistake.

They have a massive engineering and R&D operation in the US, build a lot of their cars there, and have a racetrack very close buy, which they own, and are able to use as needed to develop the car. It made total sense, especially since they're Japanese R&D facilities are spending most of their time focusing on fuel cell development and the like.

PH the forum where people make bold statements without any knowledge what so ever.... thanks for the insight.

Perhaps they are looking to leverage the NSX to boost/introduce the Acura brand into Europe?

[vz-r_dave]

SpeckledJim said:

vz-r_dave said:

SpeckledJim said:

vz-r_dave said:

MarshPhantom said:

The last one was hardly a big hit, despite the links with Senna. Can't see this doing too well.

Why?

Because sales is a function of badge x sex appeal.

Good isn't really in the equation.

And the links with Senna don't really mean anything. The best chassis engineer in the world is a chap we'll never hear about, but he'll be much better at making a sports car drive well than Ayrton Senna would have been.

Your argument makes no sense when you consider the likes of the GTR which has neither badge kudos (in it's segment) or sex appeal.

The GTR is a perfect example of my argument, thanks, since it has been comfortably outsold by the arguably inferior but better-looking and better-badged Porsche 911.

Ah so your definition of 'not doing very well' is being outsold by a competitor...... ok.. I am sure Nissan's goal for the GTR to was to trump Porsche on sales in it's first 5 years.......

[vz-r_dave]

frm70 said:

Just managed to grab a cancelled order in the first 100, I'll take mine in long beach blue with black interior with blue stitching , thanks.

The more PH'ers slag it off the more I can't wait, roll on next January.

Congrats dude, it looks fantastic in that colour.

[vz-r_dave]

SpeckledJim said:

vz-r_dave said:

SpeckledJim said:

vz-r_dave said:

SpeckledJim said:

vz-r_dave said:

MarshPhantom said:

The last one was hardly a big hit, despite the links with Senna. Can't see this doing too well.

Why?

Because sales is a function of badge x sex appeal.

Good isn't really in the equation.

And the links with Senna don't really mean anything. The best chassis engineer in the world is a chap we'll never hear about, but he'll be much better at making a sports car drive well than Ayrton Senna would have been.

Your argument makes no sense when you consider the likes of the GTR which has neither badge kudos (in it's segment) or sex appeal.

The GTR is a perfect example of my argument, thanks, since it has been comfortably outsold by the arguably inferior but better-looking and better-badged Porsche 911.

Ah so your definition of 'not doing very well' is being outsold by a competitor...... ok.. I am sure Nissan's goal for the GTR to was to trump Porsche on sales in it's first 5 years.......

I gather you're desperate for a scrap about this, but to do that you're going to have to take the opposite side.

Which would you say is 'doing' better - the 911 or the GTR?

Porsche but that doesn't mean that the GTR is not a success story, it has done well without 50+ years in the making and without the badge/history of Porsche. So in my eyes the GTR is proof that just because a car lacks the brand kudos and the sex appeal pleasing aesthetics doesn't mean a car will not succeed a manufactures strategic targets what ever that may be.

[vz-r_dave]

DanBMW said:

NSX Looks dull. Not totally convinced on the Ford GT, the design doesn't seem to flow very well.

Looks dull??? Only on PH!

[vz-r_dave]

MB 1 said:

vz-r_dave said:

juicy sushi said:

MB 1 said:

The biggest failing is making it under the Acura brand, and making it in the US.

Massive mistake.

They have a massive engineering and R&D operation in the US, build a lot of their cars there, and have a racetrack very close buy, which they own, and are able to use as needed to develop the car. It made total sense, especially since they're Japanese R&D facilities are spending most of their time focusing on fuel cell development and the like.

PH the forum where people make bold statements without any knowledge what so ever.... thanks for the insight.

Perhaps they are looking to leverage the NSX to boost/introduce the brand into Europe?

With what, a brand with ear zero kudos or heritage outside the U.S.?! To Japanese car fans, Acura isn't a well respected brand. Also car enthusiasts outside the U.S. view cars from there with a huge amount of caution. I can't think of many US sports cars I'd want to own.

I think it's a big marketing error.

As a potential customer, I'd really struggle buying something with an Acura badge. I truly hope it's released in Europe under the Honda name as per before. I'm not a badge snob at all, I've owned a lot of Japanese cars, and some Lotus and Porsche. But the U.S. connection I don't like.

You have to start somewhere right, I am half American and familiar with Acura so it's not such a shocker for me. I am sure Honda's aspiration is to challenge the likes of BMW, Mercedes eventually and I don't see them achieving that with the Honda badge unfortunately.

So such a model would at least put Acura on the mark, the car has mixed reviews but honestly if I saw this driving around London I'd look more than twice so I believe it would be good for the brand. Guess it depends how they market the car in Europe.

Manufactures are so global these days that I don't think it makes a huge difference where the car is built. Certainly in the US where they build the likes of Tesla, BMW, etc. Not sure what the issue is here.

[vz-r_dave]

MB 1 said:

I hope you're right.

I'd really like to see it kick some butts, and I'm sure it will. They are probably nervous of a repeat of the last NSX bs Ferrari. It's just for me the H badge means a lot more...

I agree, certainly with motorsport heritage which actually now makes me think I am wrong with Acura. Now that they are getting back into F1 surely hey will use that as a launch pad for the NSX and it'll therefore be branded as a Honda.