Production Body Spied @ the 'Ring

[simplife]

Why would Honda take an apparent mule or prototype to the Ring and drive around at a pedestrian pace? Manufacturers typically test the nordschleife circuit near the end of the development period or immediately before public introduction because they know it will gain them instant publicity. One would be inclined to think that there should have been reports on Jalopnik or elsewhere of testing in the U.S. before a car and crew gets shipped overseas, no?

 

[Dhalsim]

Wow. It does to me. Not that I'm expecting the new NSX to do so, but when a car performs extremely well at the 'ring, I think that has some significance. Stated otherwise, a top car at the ring must be doing something right in the areas of performance that I care about. If you're into straight-line performance or just good looks, then I can see how you might not care. But for a sports car, it seems to me like track performance is among the top priorities. Of course, looks matter too and that is probably why the GT-R is a bit of an oddity.

That's fine. For some it matters and for others it doesn't. I'm never going to run my car at the ring. My skills will never even come close to the skills of the person who would be breaking any records at the ring. 95% of my time driving the car will be on regular roads. The times I do track my NSX I never go anywhere close to even 9/10ths. The car will be (as my current NSX is) well beyond my abilities. Any records it sets would just be for bragging rights and mean nothing to me in my real world driving.

 

[N Spec]

Wow. It does to me. Not that I'm expecting the new NSX to do so, but when a car performs extremely well at the 'ring, I think that has some significance. Stated otherwise, a top car at the ring must be doing something right in the areas of performance that I care about. If you're into straight-line performance or just good looks, then I can see how you might not care. But for a sports car, it seems to me like track performance is among the top priorities. Of course, looks matter too and that is probably why the GT-R is a bit of an oddity.

A car capable of breaking the record and The Car breaking the record are two different things.

It's all about the sport and bragging rights though so I think there is some legitimacy if it can set some record. However, the 458 doesn't hold any seriously high record on the Ring, and it gets plenty of praise.

I think as long as the new NSX beats the closest equivalents by price around the ring or atleast the GTR/LFA, then it would pass that portion of expectations.

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Your render with the B pillar is fantastic. Very striking design.

Thanks. Your comment is much appreciated.

 

[jwmelvin]

I think as long as the new NSX beats the closest equivalents by price around the ring or atleast the GTR/LFA, then it would pass that portion of expectations.

I agree completely. But the car that breaks the record is generally a pretty special thing. I wouldn't expect it from the NSX, but I do think it holds value if one is talking about a sports car.

 

[Tai]

You guys are too harsh.... It's not $500k - $1m supercar. It's not going to break the 'ring record. Why does it have to? Penis envy? I want a great car that I can *afford* and is a ton of fun. I think it looks great and I'm quite excited about it... I'm not expecting it to blow the doors off the 458 Italia... that car is way out of my league $$$-wise. It's why I love my NA2 so much and bought it in the first place... it was never the fastest car when it came out either, but it was an awesome car for what it cost. That's all I'm asking for the new NSX. I just hope it's a little bit cheaper than $130k.... though with inflation, I guess 2015's $130k is 1995's 90k... so it's probably in the same ballpark as the original NSX.

I understand your point of view, yet perhaps a Cayman or 911 would meet your needs then? I feel the NSX has always been more special, worthy of a 'supercar' moniker, one that stands ahead of the crowd and turns heads. My first generation X turns more heads than new BMW's or Porsches, because it is that special. Lower cost aside, it is a beautifully built machine. When it was new, it was WAY ahead of it's time. Today, benchmarks have been set very high. The GTR is proof that ring records can be smashed for $100k. Honda and the NSX have Formula 1 heritage and technology, and Senna in it's DNA. Should it's long overdue update fall along the lines of the excellent yet bland and not special category of Caymans and standard 911's, or should it be an 'entry level' Ferrari beater, and do something revolutionary akin of its predecessor? I suppose that is up to opinion, but I at least have made mine clear.

 

[jwmelvin]

+1. Well said Tai.

 

[qdpmarketplace]

Great point Tai as I am posting another great vid of the new NSX testing and towards the end of it a Ferrari 458 Speciale is trying to catch up to it....notice how quickly the NSX comes out of the corner and it is gone vs the Speciale.....just awesome...<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fs3krq4s7zw" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

 

[stuntman]

Looks like a pushy/understeering balance like an R8. From another video I think that Ferrari is a new TT 458 and not a speciale.

EDIT:

Here's a video with 2015 Prototypes. The Mustang GT350 looks well composed and sounds awesome. The 458 clearly sounds muted in volume (TT) and you can see the car snap loose when the turbos spool:

 

[docjohn]

That was probably a ring specialist test driver for the nsx and a dentist in the 458:biggrin:

 

[_NSX_]

I understand your point of view, yet perhaps a Cayman or 911 would meet your needs then? I feel the NSX has always been more special, worthy of a 'supercar' moniker, one that stands ahead of the crowd and turns heads. My first generation X turns more heads than new BMW's or Porsches, because it is that special. Lower cost aside, it is a beautifully built machine. When it was new, it was WAY ahead of it's time. Today, benchmarks have been set very high. The GTR is proof that ring records can be smashed for $100k. Honda and the NSX have Formula 1 heritage and technology, and Senna in it's DNA. Should it's long overdue update fall along the lines of the excellent yet bland and not special category of Caymans and standard 911's, or should it be an 'entry level' Ferrari beater, and do something revolutionary akin of its predecessor? I suppose that is up to opinion, but I at least have made mine clear.

Exactly same point of view. Great to hear.

 

[nsxtreme91]

Well said..... Tai

 

[sadlerau]

That was probably a ring specialist test driver for the nsx and a dentist in the 458:biggrin:

Happily, according to Rolled over at the "Temple", it was actually there for the test, driven by a "test" driver, and yes it couldn't keep up off the turns. In the video, the Ferrari [I can't tell what it is, so I'm going with everyone else] looks like it has to wait for the turbo to spool up before really getting going.

 

[N Spec]

This is epic!

Look at that lead gap!

I'm not sure who started the Twin Turbo talk with the 458 that is seen in the videos but this article from last month:

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/next-ferrari-458-will-be-turbocharged-408t-2014-06-04

Suggests that Ferrari will need to test the 458 Twin Turbo at the Ring. Very interesting indeed! If Honda is not affiliated with the 458 on the track, then this is impeccable timing on their part!

 

[J-RnsxT]

New Sport eXperience is on the rise again. I really hope that it would be under 7 in Nurburgring. 130k for 7 figure performance, shit you can have you Ferrari. I might have to sell one of my NSX to make room for this one.... Fuck it, keep em all!!!

 

[seaeyes]

under 7 is too optimistic. As far as I know, for mass production cars, only 918 and P1 are under 7 in Nurburgring (probably also laferrari, but no official data available), both of which are around 1 million...

 

[jorligan]

Met some of the engineers who worked on the suspension for the new Mustang. Their target vehicle was the BMW E92 M3 for handling.

Looks like a pushy/understeering balance like an R8. From another video I think that Ferrari is a new TT 458 and not a speciale.

EDIT:

Here's a video with 2015 Prototypes. The Mustang GT350 looks well composed and sounds awesome. The 458 clearly sounds muted in volume (TT) and you can see the car snap loose when the turbos spool:

 

[NSX-SA]

New NSX Not Ready

by Sniff Petrol http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/07/24/new-nsx-not-ready/

Days after spy pictures apparently showed the new Honda NSX lapping the Nurburgring, sources within the company admit that the new car is nowhere near ready.

According to our insider, the NSX’s problems began when the team was moved to California in order to benchmark rival products.

‘This has been a super optimized fun project to work on,’ enthused one member of the engineering team. ‘We all rented a house in LA and then took a bunch of Porsche 911s and benchmarked them to Vegas where we also benchmarked some casinos and some cocktails and the head of stability control systems later benchmarked his bathroom with some sick. We also benchmarked the Dodge Viper to Malibu to benchmark some surfing and the Lexus LFA to the Nappa Valley where we benchmarked some wine and then there was the time I benchmarked an Audi R8 all the way to Reno and then benchmarked some hookers and one of them actually benchmarked me while I was driving. But anyway, to answer your question, no. We haven’t done our homework.’

Moving the team to Germany doesn’t seem to have helped matters, according to our insider. ‘I’ve already benchmarked several steins of strong beer and a plate of currywurst,’ he explained. ‘But we’ve also sent a prototype out onto the ‘Ring to be photographed by spies, just in case management start asking questions. Between you and me, it’s basically just MDF and No More Nails with a scooter engine in the middle.’

However, our man seemed relaxed about the seven years his team has spent benchmarking instead of developing a new NSX. ‘Look it’s fine,’ he insisted. ‘We’ll do what we did last time. Get it cobbled together and then let Ayrton Senna sort it out… He’s what? Oh God, when?’

 

[qdpmarketplace]

lol....yup great point,I mentioned that gap when I watched the vid,those electric motors do wonders in turns,Stuntman was right that this is the new 458 TT(I believed to be the Speciale) and has based from what I heard rumors above 600 hp

 

[Midnight_Raven]

You guys are too harsh.... It's not $500k - $1m supercar. It's not going to break the 'ring record. Why does it have to? Penis envy? I want a great car that I can *afford* and is a ton of fun. I think it looks great and I'm quite excited about it... I'm not expecting it to blow the doors off the 458 Italia... that car is way out of my league $$$-wise. It's why I love my NA2 so much and bought it in the first place... it was never the fastest car when it came out either, but it was an awesome car for what it cost. That's all I'm asking for the new NSX. I just hope it's a little bit cheaper than $130k.... though with inflation, I guess 2015's $130k is 1995's 90k... so it's probably in the same ballpark as the original NSX.

I agree I don't get what these guys are ranting about. The NSX was always an underdog in the supercar category so I don't expect it breaking ring records either. I also don't get why they are saying this new NSX isn't special when we don't even know any details about it. IMO people need to wait until the car is out to make their opinion on it and stop trash talking it to death. It's like you guys are setting the car up to be a failure before you even get any information about it. I'm sure it'll be a great "special" car just wait and stop downplaying it because of your lack of knowledge about the vehicle.

 

[UnhuZ]

Hi,

breacking news, the prototype was consumed by fire while testing at Nurburgring.

I'll upload some photos in a few minutes...

on the bright side, it looks like it has a trunk just as ours :wink:

Nuno

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Hi,

here are the photos:

Thanks,
Nuno

 

[s2kNSX]

Ok there goes 2015 as a start date

 

[chrisbailey13]

Hi,

breacking news, the prototype was consumed by fire while testing at Nurburgring.

I'll upload some photos in a few minutes...

on the bright side, it looks like it has a trunk just as ours :wink:

Nuno

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Hi,

here are the photos:

Thanks,
Nuno

I bet Shawn could fix it

 

[NSX69]

Fire

2016 Acura NSX Burns to the Ground During 'Ring Testing

A prototype for Acura’s 2nd-generation NSX supercar only started testing at the Nürburgring yesterday, but already the car has been destroyed. The prototype caught fire during today's round of testing but fortunately the driver managed to pull over and jump out before the flames spread to the rest of the car. Onlookers said the fire started at the rear before engulfing the rest.

The rear is where the car’s twin-turbocharged engine is located as well as its gearbox and one of its 3 electric motors. It’s not clear what caused the fire but we do know the air intakes and vents on the latest prototype are larger than those on previous prototypes as well as the original concept from 2012, suggesting the design has required additional cooling.

Fortunately the fire occurred during testing, and we’re sure engineers will address the issue before production of the new NSX commences next year. As previously reported, the new NSX will be going on sale sometime in 2015, as a 2016 model. It will be badged an Acura for the American and Chinese markets and a Honda everywhere else. Development of the new NSX is taking place primarily in the U.S. and production will be handled at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.

The drivetrain of the new NSX is a complex hybrid system consisting of a V-6, dual-clutch transmission, lithium-ion battery and three electric motors. 2 of the electric motors power the front wheels independently, while the 3rd, integrated with the V-6 and dual-clutch transmission, helps power the rear wheels. The system is Acura’s new Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive, and a tamer setup is featured in the 2014 RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.

 

[canieaturchikn]

Um I just heard the test mule just burned to the ground at the ring.

Edit-nevermind I'm so late.

 

[IRVINFLA]

Well, they said they would try to compete with Ferrari!