2019 Acura NSX Review
2019 Acura NSX
Price as tested: $175,000
Engine: Twin Turbo V6 plus 3 DC motors
Combined Horsepower: 573
Torque: 476 ft/lbs
0-60: 3.1 seconds
Text: Yousef Alvi // Photography: Geoff Dennis
To some the future can be a scary place, filled with unknowns and uncertainties. Unfortunately, those two variables for an automaker means bad PR and languished sales. For that reason, showrooms are filled with retro inspired vehicles. Vehicles that don’t push the technological envelope but play it safe living in the ‘now’ or even worst…living in the past. Acura faced this exact same decision when they decided to bring back the NSX. Live in the now and look to the past for inspiration or reach to future with outstretched arms...they choose the latter.
It would be easy to make a true ‘modern day’ NSX. Grab the old J series from the last generation Accord, change out the heads, pistons, connecting rods, cams and bolt it on to the body of the new car. Done. Everyone would be happy…..for about 30 seconds. Then the vitriolic hatred would begin. ‘Where are the turbos?” ‘’Its too slow’’ ‘’LOL @ Acura’’. The internet would be set ablaze. Now option two. Slap on some turbos to the above formula. You placate the internet masses for about 90 seconds. Until the internet starts complaining again.
So what Acura did was to look to the future and integrated that into the the new NSX. What is the future you ask? Hybrid technology working in conjunction with forced induction. Why you ask? If you want to see the future of the automobile ...just look at the some hypercars. The McLaren P1, Porsche 918, LaFerrari...they are all powered by the same type of technology and that tech helps propel them to ludicrous amounts of speed, handling and efficiency. But they also come with a ludicrous price tag to match.
Acura adopted that same type of technology and priced it down to a fraction of the cost. Yes it’s still expensive but come on this is a NSX not a Honda Fit. So what does that tech give you? Shove the performance aside for a few moments. In ‘Quiet mode’ you have an all electric drivetrain (under certain speeds) not wasting a drop of fuel or emitting an ounce of pollutant around town. The perfect city car or commuter. Then when the roads open up you can also open up the gates of Hell. The DC motors work as an electric torque bridge until the turbos come on boil….helping to bridge the power gap and giving you an off the line shove the doesn’t stop until you lift off the throttle.
I wish there was a way I can toss you the keys through the monitor for you to take a spin. Everyone with a single ounce of octane in their blood needs to experience driving the NSX at least once in their life. It’s tactile, it’s response, it’s alive, it’s beautiful, it speaks to you in ways no other car I have ever experienced. At redline the NSX sings to you as the drivetrain reaches a crescendo that will make a grown man weep.
“At redline the NSX sings to you as the drivetrain reaches a crescendo that will make a grown man weep. ”
So how do I sum up the 2019 Acura NSX? If you can afford the price of admission…don’t read social media postings, hell don’t even read the reviews (except for this one). Experience it for yourself and I promise you you will come away as I did. Blown away.
