Cosworth Engine

drmanny3

drmanny3

Experienced Member
Joined
17 November 2002
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Location
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
I understand that in designing the NC1 that when the engine went from a horizontal to longitudinal layout that time was a constraint and Cosworth was brought in. I have also heard that the NC1 is $50,000 more because of the engine. I would like to understand more about the Cosworth connection. I have worked with casting companies in the past during my Aerospace consulting days. I introduced the Toyota Production System to a California Casting Company that manufactured some complex aerospace parts with elaborate oil and fuel pathways. Did Cosworth design the engine? Did Acura spec it out? Who owns the design? Honda/Acura could cast the engine either in their factory or elsewhere if that were the only issue. What are the specifics? While some complain that the price is too high, would we really want a Corvette pricing structure? I was going to get a Porsche Turbo S originally but when I really saw the NC1 it was love at first sight.
 
I think a lot of the owners of NC1 are more active on the FB pages....sadly they have pretty much left prime but for a few helpful owners keeping us all updated...
 
drmanny3 said:
I understand that in designing the NC1 that when the engine went from a horizontal to longitudinal layout that time was a constraint and Cosworth was brought in. I have also heard that the NC1 is $50,000 more because of the engine. I would like to understand more about the Cosworth connection. I have worked with casting companies in the past during my Aerospace consulting days. I introduced the Toyota Production System to a California Casting Company that manufactured some complex aerospace parts with elaborate oil and fuel pathways. Did Cosworth design the engine? Did Acura spec it out? Who owns the design? Honda/Acura could cast the engine either in their factory or elsewhere if that were the only issue. What are the specifics? While some complain that the price is too high, would we really want a Corvette pricing structure? I was going to get a Porsche Turbo S originally but when I really saw the NC1 it was love at first sight.
Click to expand...

drmanny3,
Not much information out there on the NSX engine unlike McLaren, Porsche, AMG etc. The tech at my dealership told me that during the tear down instruction for the NSX techs there was security detail to keep prying eyes off their class and the area where they were being instructed. Must be some great intellectual property in the NSX motors.

I'm not concerned that a company out sources components in a low volume run. Look, McLaren uses Riccardo to build their engines which were formerly Nissan race motors nobody is complaining about 720s motors, and nobody builds their own turbos'. As far as the cost, AMG motors cost around $50k to replace so $50k isn't out of the ballpark on hand assembled engines.

After dealing with Ford on licensing of a certain guys name who build sports cars, I can guarantee Acura owns the rights to the cylinder heads and block.
I just want to know more about the motor details.

Jimmy aka sled driver
2020 Casino Wht NSX
 
Here is what I was told by one of the Engineer at the PMC, during our Tour.

-Acura design the Engine and DCT, plus all the electronics and associated software to integrate the various motors torque characteristics...ICE vs Electric motors.
- Cosworth, was selected to cast the block and head due to their speciality with designing and building low volume race engine. Apparently, Cosworth have some type of special casting technique that Honda believe was more suitable for the high performance specs of the NC1 engine.

Additional tidbits:
- Engine and Transmission (power unit) develop by a Japanese Team
- Electronics and software, with NC1 design was develop by an American team
- An International team was responsible for testing and development of the Power unit and chassis.


Bram
 
Last edited:
What i was told was that Honda really didn't have a place to do small volume production and just went to Cosworth.

Cosworth must have had some input on design, as folks point the finger at them for the requirement to pull the engine at 75K miles to do the valve adjustments.

The target NSX volumes were actually higher than Cosworth was able to do, so Honda sent some folks to the UK to help them figure out how to increase volume (not really required at the end of the day).
 
Bram said:
Here is what I was told by one of the Engineer at the PMC, during our Tour.-Acura design the Engine and DCT, plus all the electronics and associated software to integrate the various motors torque characteristics...ICE vs Electric motors.- Cosworth, was selected to cast the block and head due to their speciality with designing and building low volume race engine. Apparently, Cosworth have some type of special casting technique that Honda believe was more suitable for the high performance specs of the NC1 engine.Additional tidbits:- Engine and Transmission (power unit) develop by a Japanese Team- Electronics and software, with NC1 design was develop by an American team- An International team was responsible for testing and development of the Power unit and chassis.Bram
Click to expand...
I was also reading that the cylinder walls have been further processed to increase hardness and consequently do not need Iron liners as do many aluminum blocks. I wonder if Cosworth is do the work or is that being done at the PMC?
 
The PMC only build the NSX's..ie assembly the car, they also set up a section to accommodate customer delivery. A really cool board room, the main feature is a board room table built on an NSX chassis, the top is all glass....really cool.

The engine and it's assembly is done at the Anna Engine plant..... did not tour that Plant.

Bram
 
I believe the engine is just assembled in Ohio (at the Anna engine plant) using the finished block and heads shipped from Cosworth
 
My understanding is that there was a fairly late decision in the design phase of the car that required the engine to be suitable for endurance racing in the GT3 class. The J35 twin turbo they were running- being a production-car base design- just could not be modified quickly and/or effectively enough to meet this new requirement. So, they binned it and went to Cosworth, who was able to deliver a race-ready engine on a fast timetable. It's interesting to hear that Honda is telling owners a Japan-based team designed the engine. We'll probably never know, but it could have been as simple as a team coming up with a detailed spec sheet and sending it to Cosworth to actually engineer and produce. Or somewhere in between.
 
I'm glad you are!:biggrin:
 
So Cool. Thank you for the information about Cosworth and the NSX Engine. While there seems to be a lot of complaints concerning the Cosworth/Acura relationship, my sense is that most are upset about the cost. In their minds if the engine were a parts bin RL or other six then this would help make the car more affordable. Why stop at the engine. Keep on looking for ways to make it cheaper so that eventually it gets down to the Chevy Corvette or the Miata. Is this really what we want? I want the NSX to be special as it was way back when it first appeared back in 1990. Affordability is important. For sure. While I could purchase a more expensive sports car, the NSX meets my expectations of being an exotic while also a car to feel good about. It is not a pretentious snob exotic. I don't have to apologize for it. People are excited to hear it is a Honda/Acura.
 

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