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Honda NSX

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Honda NSX



 
 
The Honda NSX (branded as the Acura
Acura

Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. It primarily competes with Buick, Lexus and Infiniti among others in the luxury vehicle segment....
 NSX
in North America
North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
 and Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south....
)
is a sports car
Sports car

A sports car is a term used to describe a class of automobile. The exact definition varies, but generally it is used to refer to a low to ground, light weight vehicle with a powerful engine....
 produced between 1990 and 2005 by the Japanese automaker
Japanese automobile industry

The Japanese automotive industry is one of the most prominent industries in the world. Japan is the world's largest vehicle manufacturer. It is home to a number of companies that produces cars, construction vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, engines, etc....
 Honda
Honda

is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan.The company manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, scooter , robots, jet aircrafts and jet engines, all-terrain vehicle, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical and other mobile technologies....
. It used a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout and was powered by an all-aluminum V6
V6 engine

A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinder s mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft....
 gasoline engine
Four-stroke cycle

Today, internal combustion engines in automobile, trucks, motorcycles, aircraft, construction machinery and many others, most commonly use a four-stroke cycle....
 featuring Honda
Honda

is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan.The company manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, scooter , robots, jet aircrafts and jet engines, all-terrain vehicle, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical and other mobile technologies....
's unique "variable valve timing and lift electronic control" (VTEC
VTEC

Introduction to VTECIn the regular four-stroke cycle automobile engine, the intake and exhaust valves are actuated by lobes on a camshaft. The shape of the lobes determines the timing, lift and duration of each valve....
) system.

984 Honda commissioned Pininfarina
Pininfarina

Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian automobile design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy, founded as Societ? anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista Farina ....
 to design the HP-X (Honda Pininfarina Xperimental), which had a mid-mounted 2.0 L V6 configuration. The production NSX was designed by a team led by Chief Designer Ken Okuyama
Ken Okuyama

Ken Okuyama is an automobile designer who worked for Pininfarina designing or supervising projects such as the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5. His given name is Kiyoyuki Okuyama but goes by Ken Okuyama outside Japan....
 and Executive Chief Engineer Shigeru Uehara, who was also in charge of the S2000
Honda S2000

The Honda S2000 is a roadster manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was launched in April 1999 and was created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary....
 project.






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Encyclopedia


The Honda NSX (branded as the Acura
Acura

Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. It primarily competes with Buick, Lexus and Infiniti among others in the luxury vehicle segment....
 NSX
in North America
North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
 and Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south....
)
is a sports car
Sports car

A sports car is a term used to describe a class of automobile. The exact definition varies, but generally it is used to refer to a low to ground, light weight vehicle with a powerful engine....
 produced between 1990 and 2005 by the Japanese automaker
Japanese automobile industry

The Japanese automotive industry is one of the most prominent industries in the world. Japan is the world's largest vehicle manufacturer. It is home to a number of companies that produces cars, construction vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, engines, etc....
 Honda
Honda

is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan.The company manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, scooter , robots, jet aircrafts and jet engines, all-terrain vehicle, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical and other mobile technologies....
. It used a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout and was powered by an all-aluminum V6
V6 engine

A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinder s mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft....
 gasoline engine
Four-stroke cycle

Today, internal combustion engines in automobile, trucks, motorcycles, aircraft, construction machinery and many others, most commonly use a four-stroke cycle....
 featuring Honda
Honda

is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan.The company manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, scooter , robots, jet aircrafts and jet engines, all-terrain vehicle, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical and other mobile technologies....
's unique "variable valve timing and lift electronic control" (VTEC
VTEC

Introduction to VTECIn the regular four-stroke cycle automobile engine, the intake and exhaust valves are actuated by lobes on a camshaft. The shape of the lobes determines the timing, lift and duration of each valve....
) system.

Development

In 1984 Honda commissioned Pininfarina
Pininfarina

Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian automobile design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy, founded as Societ? anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista Farina ....
 to design the HP-X (Honda Pininfarina Xperimental), which had a mid-mounted 2.0 L V6 configuration. The production NSX was designed by a team led by Chief Designer Ken Okuyama
Ken Okuyama

Ken Okuyama is an automobile designer who worked for Pininfarina designing or supervising projects such as the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5. His given name is Kiyoyuki Okuyama but goes by Ken Okuyama outside Japan....
 and Executive Chief Engineer Shigeru Uehara, who was also in charge of the S2000
Honda S2000

The Honda S2000 is a roadster manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was launched in April 1999 and was created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary....
 project. At its first public appearances as the NS-X at the Chicago Auto Show
Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. At , with over 1,000 vehicles on display, it is the largest auto show in North America and the third largest in the world ....
 in February 1989, and at the Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo Motor Show

The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Chiba, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, and normally sees more concept cars than...
 in October 1989 sports car enthusiasts were astonished by its pronounced cockpit forward attitude. The bodywork design had been specifically researched by Okuyuma and Uehara after studying the 360 degree visibility inside an F-16
F-16 Fighting Falcon

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a Multirole combat aircraft jet aircraft fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force....
 fighter jet cockpit
Cockpit

A cockpit is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin....
. In North America, the NSX was branded as an Acura in 1991.

Respected Japanese Formula One
Formula One

Formula One, abbreviated to F1, and currently officially referred as the FIA Formula One World Championship is the highest class of auto racing sanctioned by the F?d?ration Internationale de l'Automobile ....
 driver Satoru Nakajima
Satoru Nakajima

Satoru Nakajima is a former racing driver from Japan....
 was involved with Honda in the NSX's early on track development at Suzuka race circuit, where he performed many endurance distance duties related to chassis tuning; but Brazilian Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna da Silva, was a Brazilian race car driver and three-time Formula One List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions. He was killed while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix and is the most recent Grand Prix driver to die at the wheel of a Formula One car....
, for who Honda themselves had powered all three of his world championship winning Formula One race cars before his death in 1994, was considered Honda's main innovator in convincing the company to stiffen the NSX chassis
Chassis

A chassis consists of a Frame that supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animal's skeleton, for example in a motor vehicle or a firearm....
 further after testing the car at Honda's Suzuka GP circuit in Japan.

American Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal

Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an United States auto racing team owner and former driver, spending most of his driving career in the Champ Car open-wheel series, winning three championships there....
 also participated in the car's development. Senna was given an NSX by Honda, although details of this car and its fate are unclear.

Honda's breakthrough engineering in the NSX was a major contributor to the design of the McLaren F1
McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 is a sports car designed and manufactured by Gordon Murray and McLaren Automotive. On March 31, 1998, it set the record for the fastest production car in the world, 240.1 mph , which it held until the introduction of the Bugatti Veyron in 2005....
 as mentioned in an interview with McLaren F1
McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 is a sports car designed and manufactured by Gordon Murray and McLaren Automotive. On March 31, 1998, it set the record for the fastest production car in the world, 240.1 mph , which it held until the introduction of the Bugatti Veyron in 2005....
 designer Gordon Murray
Gordon Murray

Prof. Gordon Murray is a renowned designer of Formula One race cars and the famous McLaren F1 'supercar' road car....
 (translated from original Japanese into English). "The moment I drove the NSX, all the benchmark cars—Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini—I had been using as references in the development of my car vanished from my mind. Of course the car we would create, the McLaren F1, needed to be faster than the NSX, but the NSX's ride quality and handling would become our new design target." The NSX was also the world's first all-aluminum and aluminum monocoque chassis production car, and was also marketed as the "Everyday Supercar" thanks in part to its ease of use, quality and reliability. Murray himself remained an NSX owner for 7 years.

Manufacture and release

Upon its release in 1990, the NSX was a design concept well ahead of its time. At only in height (only taller than the legendary Ford GT40
Ford GT40

The Ford GT40 was a high performance sports car and winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans four times in a row, from 1966 to 1969 . It was built to win long-distance sports car racing against Scuderia Ferrari ....
), the car showcased Honda's cutting edge racing pedigree and technology at a time when the company were literally making history while totally dominating Formula One
Formula One

Formula One, abbreviated to F1, and currently officially referred as the FIA Formula One World Championship is the highest class of auto racing sanctioned by the F?d?ration Internationale de l'Automobile ....
 motor racing. The Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
ese car maker's race track innovations and competitive history were further exemplified on the road by the NSX's ultra-rigid, ultra-light all aluminum monocoque
Monocoque

Monocoque, from Greek language for single and French for shell , is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin....
 chassis, all aluminum suspension, boasting the world's first production car with titanium
Titanium

Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Sometimes called the ?space age metal?, it has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver colour....
 connecting rods, with forged pistons and ultra high-revving capabilities — the redline was at a lofty 8,000 rpm - all traits usually associated with track and race engineered motor cars.

Aside from its unique 23-step paint process, including an aircraft
Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle which is able to flight by being supported by the air, or in general, the atmosphere, of a planet. Examples include balloons, airplanes and helicopters....
 type chromate coating designed for chemically protecting the aluminum bodywork and a waterborne paint for the base coat to achieve a clearer, more vivid top color and a smoother surface finish, today the NSX is still considered by owners of the marque as one of the most reliable exotic cars ever manufactured with many examples exceeding without serious notable reliability issues or having suffered manufacturer recalls.

The car's strong chassis rigidity and cornering/handling capabilities were the results of Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna da Silva, was a Brazilian race car driver and three-time Formula One List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions. He was killed while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix and is the most recent Grand Prix driver to die at the wheel of a Formula One car....
's direct input with NSX's chief engineers while testing the NSX prototype car at Honda's Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka Circuit

, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a co-host of the Formula One Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix, and is one of the oldest and most famous motorsport race tracks in Japan....
 during its final development stages. The NSX was initially assembled at the purpose-built Takanezawa
Takanezawa, Tochigi

is a towns of Japan located in Shioya District, Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 30,436 and a population density of 429.28 persons per square kilometer....
 R&D Plant in Tochigi
Tochigi Prefecture

is a Prefectures of Japan located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi. Utsunomiya is famous for its many Jiaozi specialist shops....
 from 1989 to early 2004, when it was moved to Suzuka
Suzuka, Mie

is a cities of Japan located in Mie Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 197,437 and the population density of 1,010 people per square kilometer....
 Plant for the remainder of its production life. The cars were assembled by approximately 200 of Honda's best and most experienced personnel, a team of hand-picked staff employed from various other Honda facilities to run the NSX operation. After studying their main competitors such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, Honda engineers designed the NSX in search of the perfect balance between usable power and reliability and thus produced a powerful naturally aspirated VTEC engine suitable for the extreme demands of both road and track.

One of the first magazine articles show the lightweight 3.0L NSX producing a best 0-60 mp/h time of 5.03 seconds and 13.47 seconds for the quarter mile.

Also on a Ferrari 348
Ferrari 348

The Ferrari 348 is a Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout V8 engine-powered 2-seat sports car, replacing the Ferrari 328 in 1989 and continuing until 1995....
 to NSX comparison, a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds was recorded for the 1991 NSX.

Wheels magazine
Wheels magazine

Wheels magazine is an Australian automotive magazine published monthly by ACP Magazines. Wheels was founded in May 1953 by editor Athol Yeomans....
 Australia awarded the Honda NSX the 1991 Car of the Year
Car of the Year

Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile....
 award, and the Acura-badged car was Automobile Magazine
Automobile Magazine

Automobile Magazine is an automobile magazine in the United States and is owned by Source Interlink. It was founded by a group of former employes of Car and Driver magazine, led by that publications?s former editor, David E....
's Automobile of the Year that same year.

Despite the original NSX ceasing production in 2005, the marque still has a strong base of fans and supporters worldwide with owners clubs flourishing in Asia, the USA and across Europe. International motoring authors like Andrew Frankel (AutoCar & Motor) Russell Bulgin
Russell Bulgin

Russell Bulgin was an automotive journalist.He worked for many of the world's leading magazines including Evo Magazine, Car Magazine, Autocar, Cars and Car Conversions, Motor Sport and also newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph....
 (Car) Mark Hales (Fast Lane) Gianni Marin (Gente Motore) and Bernd Ostmann (AutoMotor Und Sport) have not only lent their name to the NSX in print but publicly praised the technology and innovation of Honda's NSX and in the BBC book NSX - Hondas Super Sports Car (ISBN 0 9517751 0 3) describe the vehicle as worthy of the title supercar.

Even in original NA1 form because of the NSX's specially designed lightweight all aluminum construction, on trial the car was visibly faster than the Ferrari 348 straight-line acceleration. Post-1997 3.2 L North American Acura examples are known to achieve a 13.3 second quarter-mile time (1997-2005 model year NSX-T; the lighter Zanardi Edition NSX is closer to 13.2 seconds ), while the Japanese NSX-R (2002+) is known to perform a 12.9 second quarter-mile time. This ability is a result of the high 8,000 rpm redline, flat power curve, short gear ratios, light weight and mid-engine layout, along with the light power increase.

First generation NSX-R (JDM)

While the NSX always was intended to be a world-class sports car, engineers had made some compromises in order to strike a suitable balance between raw performance and daily driveability. For those NSX customers seeking a no-compromise racing experience, Honda decided in 1992 to produce a version of the NSX specifically modified for superior on-track performance at the expense of customary creature comforts. Thus, the NSX Type R (or NSX-R) was born. Honda chose to use its moniker of Type-R
Honda Type R

Honda automobile Type R models are special performance editions of their respective model families.The design of Type R models was originally focused on race conditions, with an emphasis on minimizing weight, and maximizing performance potential ....
 to designate the NSX-R's race-oriented design.

Honda engineers started with a base NSX coupe and embarked on an aggressive program of weight reduction. Sound deadening, the audio system and the entire air conditioning system were removed. The power leather seats were replaced with lightweight carbon fiber racing seats manufactured for Honda by Recaro
Recaro

RECARO GmbH & Co. KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a Germany company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their automobile bucket seats....
. The stock alloy wheels were replaced with forged aluminum wheels produced by Enkei, which reduced the car's unsprung weight. The stock leather shift knob was replaced with a sculpted titanium piece. Overall, Honda managed to remove approximately of weight, giving the NSX-R a final weight of .

Turning to the suspension, it was well known by 1992 that the NSX, due to its mid-engine layout and rear-end link travel, was susceptible to a sudden oversteer condition during certain cornering maneuvers. While this condition rarely occurred during spirited street driving, it was much more prevalent on race tracks where speeds were much higher. To address the problem and improve the NSX-R's cornering stability at the limit, Honda replaced the entire suspension with completely new springs and dampers.

The stock NSX has a rear bias in its spring rates, where the rear springs are stiffer than the front. On hard deceleration upon corner entry, the softer front springs allow weight transfer to the front wheels, increasing front grip and thus improving steering response. However, the weight transfer also takes weight off of the rear wheels, causing them to lose grip. The net result is a tendency toward oversteer
Oversteer

Oversteer is a phenomenon that can occur in an automobile while attempting to corner or while already cornering. The car is said to oversteer when the rear wheels do not track behind the front wheels but instead slide out toward the outside of the turn....
, as the rear wheels are more likely to break traction and cause a fishtail (drift
Drift

Drift is a slow change and may refer specifically to:In the literal sense of a change in position of a body:*Drifting , which is a sport where drivers intentionally induce oversteer, to be judged on their technique...
) or spin. For the NSX-R, Honda reversed the spring bias, placing stiffer springs on the front suspension. This had the effect of preventing weight transfer to the front suspension under hard braking. This way, the rear tires would remain firmly set when entering the corner. Of course, by keeping weight off of the front wheels, front grip was reduced and the change therefore had the negative effect of increasing the understeer
Understeer

Understeer is a term for a car handling condition in which during cornering the circular path of the vehicle's motion is of a greater radius than the circle indicated by the direction its wheels are pointed....
 tendency of the car. This change required better driver skill to manage. Overall, the NSX-R uses much stiffer springs than the stock NSX (F 3.0 kg/mm -- R 4.0 kg/mm for the NSX versus F 8.0 kg/mm -- R 5.7 kg/mm for the NSX-R).

Honda also increased the final drive ratio by adding a 4.235:1 ring and pinion gear in place of the 4.06:1 stock unit, which moved the NSX-R's shifts further into the power band at the expense of top end performance.

The lightest of all NSX variants at , the First-Gen NSX-R is capable of blistering track performance, though the ride can be jarring and noisy due to the stiff spring rates and lack of sound insulation.

Beginning in 1992 Honda produced a limited number of 483 NSX-R variants exclusively for the Japanese domestic market (JDM). Air conditioning and the stereo system were available for a hefty premium as optional items. Production ended in 1995.

NSX-T

In 1995 the NSX-T with a targa top
Targa top

Targa top, targa for short, is a semi-convertible car body style with a removable roof section and a full width roll bar behind the seats....
 roof was released in Japan as a special order option. In North America, the NSX-T replaced the standard coupe entirely as the only trim available, with the notable exceptions of the Zanardi Edition NSX in 1999 and a handful of special ordered post-1997/pre-2002 3.2 liter coupes. The removable roof reduced the chassis rigidity of the NSX and added about 100 pounds (45 kg) of structural reinforcements. In addition to this major change, the suspensions have also been softened to improve ride, comfort, and tire wear, at the expense of ultimate handling. The suspension redesign was also intended to reduce the sudden-oversteer problems that plagued most mid-engined vehicles. All roofs were now body-colored instead of black, although in Japan the two-tone black roof/body color was still available as an optional feature. Finally available in the manual transmission version NSX was electric power steering, previously found in the automatic version exclusively.

1997 performance-enhancing changes (Worldwide)

1997 brought the biggest changes to the performance of the current generation NSX for the Japanese domestic versions and abroad. For 1997 engine displacement increased from 3.0 L to 3.2 L. This new 3.2 L C32B
Honda C engine

Honda's first V6 engines are members of a single family, the C-series. It is a 90? V6 design and is being phased out in favor of the newer 60? Honda J engine....
 engine gave it slightly more rated power: from to while torque increased from to (manual transmission only). The 4-speed automatic model still used the 3.0 litre engine and power output. Another big change was the adoption of the 6-speed manual transmission. The combination of slightly-increased power and torque, 6-speed manual gearbox, and optimized gear ratio produced improved straight-line acceleration. The new NSX rang up better numbers than the power and torque improvements may suggest over previous model NSXs. 0-60 mph time dropped from 5.4 seconds to as low as 5.0 seconds for the NSX-S Zero. Other notable changes include a brake rotor size increase from to — which necessitated larger wheels and tires, a new aluminum alloy to further reduce weight and increase rigidity, and a transponder in the key.

NSX-S, S-Zero (JDM)

Along with the engine enlargement in 1997, Japan exclusively received the NSX type S (NSX-S) and NSX type S Zero (NSX-S-Zero), weighing in at and respectively. Both had a stiffer suspension than the normal NSX.

Unlike the standard Type S, the S-Zero does not offer Air Conditioning, navigation, and stereo system as an option. The suspension is stiffer than the standard Type S by using the NA1 Type R (1992 to 1995) suspension. The Best Motoring did a sub 12.4x second 1/4 mile, which is quite a remarkable achievement when compared to cars such as the Ferrari F355 and Porsche 996 Turbo. Changes were also made to the interior's manual transmission boot shifter, replacing the original material from leather to mesh to save approx .28 grams.

Alex Zanardi Edition NSX

Produced exclusively for the United States, the Alex Zanardi Edition NSX was introduced in 1999 to commemorate Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi

Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an italian people racing driver. He won two Champ Car championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver....
's two back-to-back CART Champ Car championship wins for Honda / Acura in 1997 and 1998. Only fifty-one examples were built, and they were available only in New Formula Red to reflect the color of the Champ Car Zanardi drove for Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IndyCar Series and Rolex Sports Car Series....
.

The Zanardi Edition was similar to the Japanese market NSX Type S. Visible differences between the Zanardi Edition and the Type S were the Zanardi's left-hand drive, black leather and suede seats with red stitching, airbag-equipped Acura steering wheel, and a brushed-aluminum plaque with an engraved Acura logo, Zanardi's signature, and a serial number on the rear bulkhead.

Zanardi Number 0 was a press car that also appeared in auto shows across the country. In a handling test in Road and Track's June 1999 issue, this Zanardi NSX placed second against the Dodge Viper
Dodge Viper

The Dodge Viper is a V10 engine-powered sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC. Production of the two seat sports car began at New Mack Assembly in 1992 and moved to its current home at Conner Avenue Assembly in October 1995....
 GTS-R, Lotus Esprit
Lotus Esprit

The Lotus Esprit was a sports car built by Lotus in the United Kingdom from 1976 to 2004. The silver Italdesign concept that eventually became the Esprit was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1972, and was a development of a stretched Lotus Europa chassis....
, Porsche 911
Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 is a sports car made by Porsche Aktiengesellschaft of Stuttgart, Germany. The famous, distinctive, and durable design is notable for being rear engined like the Porsche-designed Volkswagen Beetle it had been based on....
 Carrera 4, Ferrari F355
Ferrari F355

The Ferrari F355 is a sports car built by Ferrari from May 1994 to 1999. It is an evolution of the Ferrari 348 and was replaced by the Ferrari 360....
 Spider, and Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953. The car was originally designed by Harley Earl, and named by Myron Scott after the fast corvette....
 C5 Coupe. The car was also featured in Car and Driver
Car and Driver

Car and Driver is an United States automobile enthusiast magazine. Its total Magazine circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hachette Filipacchi M?dias....
's July 1999 issue before being sold to a private individual.

Zanardi Number 1 belongs to Zanardi himself and was not given a North American VIN. The car is rumored to have been modified by Honda with hand-activated throttle, braking, and shifting mechanisms to accommodate Zanardi's paraplegia resulting from his Lausitzring crash in 2001.

Zanardi numbers 2 through 50 were sold to the general public through dealers.

"Facelifted" NSX (Worldwide)

The original NSX body design received only minor modifications from Honda in the new millennium when in 2002 the original pop-up headlamps were replaced with fixed xenon HID headlamp units (see photo from LA Autoshow
Greater Los Angeles Auto Show

The Los Angeles Auto Show is an annual auto show that takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, California....
 2003) along with slightly wider rear tires to complement a revised suspension.

The fixed roof NSX was dropped in 2002. The NSX was now made available in a number of exterior colors with either a matching or black interior to provide a number of possible color combinations. A 4-speed automatic transmission with manual-type shift option also became available.

Second generation NSX-R (JDM)

A second iteration of the NSX-R was released in 2002, again exclusively in Japan. As with the first NSX-R, weight reduction was the primary focus for performance enhancement. Instead of developing the stock 2002+ T-Top, Honda chose to go back to the pre-2002 fixed-roof coupe, due to its lighter weight and more rigid construction. Carbon fiber was used to a large extent throughout the body components to reduce weight, including a larger, more aggressive rear spoiler
Spoiler (aeronautics)

In aeronautics a spoiler is a device intended to reduce lift in an aircraft. Spoilers are plates on the top surface of a wing which can be extended upward into the airflow and spoil it....
, vented hood and deck lid. The rear spoiler was said to be the largest one-piece carbon-fiber spoiler in production cars. Additionally, the original NSX-R weight reduction techniques were repeated, including deletion of the audio system, sound insulation and air conditioning. A single-pane rear divider was again used, as were carbon-kevlar racing seats manufactured for Honda by Recaro. Finally, larger yet lighter wheels resulted in a total weight reduction of almost to .

The 3.2L DOHC V6 engine received special attention as well. Each NSX-R engine was hand assembled by a skilled technician using techniques normally reserved for racing programs. Components of the rotating assembly (pistons, rods and crank) were precision weighed and matched so that all components fell within a very small tolerance of weight differential. Then, the entire rotating assembly was balanced to a level of accuracy ten times that of a typical NSX engine. This balancing and blueprinting process significantly reduced parasitic loss of power due to inertial imbalance, resulting in a more powerful, free-revving powerplant with excellent throttle response. Officially, Honda maintains that the power output of the Second-Gen NSX-R engine is , which is identical to the stock NSX. The automotive press, however, has long speculated that the true output of the engine is as much as , and that other, unpublished enhancements were made.

To complement the revised powerplant, Honda increased the final drive ratio by adding a 4.235:1 ring and pinion gear in place of the 4.06:1 stock unit. This had the effect of increasing the torque at the axles at the expense of a lower maximum speed in each gear. Honda also, in an effort to improve clutch engagement and smoothness, replaced the stock 1-disc clutch unit with a dual disc setup similar to those found in 1991-1996 NSX years.

Honda engineers then turned to the suspension, which was tuned specifically for road-course handling. A thicker front sway bar with hardened bushings was added, along with two aluminum braces to stiffen the front chassis. Unlike the stock NSX, which has stiffer rear springs, the NSX-R uses stiffer front springs, which prevent weight transfer to the front suspension on deceleration and corner entry. Spring rates for front and rear overall (F 10.4kg/mm / R 8.3kg/mm) are significantly stiffer than stock (F 3.5kg/mm / R 4.0kg/mm). Matching Showa dampers with external fluid reservoirs were added to compensate for the stiffer springs.

To complement the suspension adjustments, Honda re-worked the aerodynamic shape of the NSX. Engineers added under-body panels and air fences in the front along with a small rear diffuser
Diffuser (automotive)

A diffuser, in an automotive context, is a shaped section of the car underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties by enhancing the transition between the high-velocity airflow underneath the car and the much slower freestream airflow of the ambient Earth's atmosphere....
 to produce balanced "negative lift" or downforce. To improve front downforce, Honda removed the spare tire and added a carbon fiber duct behind the radiator, which directed airflow into the vented carbon fiber hood, providing a flow path for radiator air to pass over the top of the car. The sum result of these subtle aerodynamic changes and suspension adjustments is that the second generation NSX-R is easier to drive on a road course. The car is stable, with less tendency to over-rotate, ultimately improving corner speeds and lowering overall lap times compared to a stock NSX.

The result of Honda's NSX-R effort was a vehicle that could challenge the latest sports car models on the track, despite having a base design that was more than 15 years old. For example, noted Japanese race and test driver Motoharu Kurosawa
Motoharu Kurosawa

is a retired professional Japanese people racing driver who was a factory driver for Nissan. After retirement of race driver, he became motor journalist and appointed as advisor and test driver of automotive manufacturers and tire manufacturers....
 piloted a 2003 NSX-R around the legendary Nurburgring road course in 7:56, a time equal to a Ferrari F360 Challenge Stradale. The NSX-R accomplished this feat despite being out-powered by the Ferrari by nearly and weighing almost more than the track-oriented Ferrari (at 1180kg).

Despite these impressive feats and performance, the NSX-R was generally discarded by the automotive press as "too little too late" for the already struggling NSX brand. Criticism was leveled at Honda for failing to completely re-design the NSX. Indeed, critics charged that Honda had simply recycled the existing NSX with some weight reduction and a few clever aerodynamic tweaks. Many questioned why Honda would go to such lengths to merely tweak a failing product, including, famously, adding a mesh shift boot to save 10 grams of weight, when they could have instead increased engine displacement or added a V8. Whatever the validity of the criticism, the NSX-R failed to re-ignite market interest in the NSX, which by 2003 was viewed as over-priced and under-powered. Still, the Second-Gen NSX-R remains a holy grail for Honda/Acura enthusiasts, and is the ultimate expression of Honda's performance vision for its mid-engined sports car.

NSX-R GT (JDM)

After the release of the Second-Gen NSX-R, Honda developed a more agile, more responsive, and quicker limited edition NSX-R called the NSX-R GT. The NSX-R GT was created by Honda solely to comply with the Super GT production-based race car homologation requirements. As JGTC rules required at least five production cars for any race car version to compete, the NSX-R GT was limited to a production run of only five cars.

The differences between the Second-Gen NSX-R and the NSX-R GT are not fully known. One clear difference is the addition of a non-functional snorkel
Vehicle snorkel

Military wheeled vehicles, like Jeeps, are capable of mounting snorkels for the air intake and engine exhaust, to allow them to wade through relatively deep water, limited by the height of the driver's head....
 attached to the roof of the car. In the JGTC NSX race cars however, this snorkel is fully functional, feeding outside air to an individual throttle body intake plenum. The NSX-R GT also has a lowered suspension and widened body. More aggressive aerodynamic components such as an extended front spoiler lip and large rear diffuser are used as well. It also is speculated that the NSX-R GT incorporates more weight savings over the NSX-R.

Powerplant changes are less obvious. Honda never advertised what, if any, changes were made to the 3.2L DOHC V6 for the NSX-R GT. At least one of the cars, owned by Spoon Sports
Spoon Sports

Spoon Sports Co., Ltd. is a Japanese company formed in 1988. Spoon Sports is an engine Car tuning and parts manufacturer specializing in cars made by Honda Motor Company....
, is known to be turbocharged, with an approximate output of . Though, it is unclear if the turbo system was installed by Honda at the factory or added by Spoon at a later time.

For several years after its release, the NSX-R GT was something of a unicorn. No one had actually seen one, and the scant images released by Honda appeared to be re-touched photos of a standard NSX-R. Some wondered whether the NSX-R GT existed at all. Speculation largely ceased in 2008, when Spoon
Spoon Sports

Spoon Sports Co., Ltd. is a Japanese company formed in 1988. Spoon Sports is an engine Car tuning and parts manufacturer specializing in cars made by Honda Motor Company....
, a Japanese performance tuner long associated with Honda, provided its NSX-R GT for a track comparison to the Mine's
MINE'S

MINE'S is an automotive tuning company based in Yokosuka, Japan. MINE'S was started by Tsuzo Niikura, in 1985. They initially gained their popularity around 1988, by being among the first Japanese companies to sell re-programmed Engine control unit systems for popular Japanese sportscars....
 R-35 GT-R
Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R is a sports car created by Nissan Motors, released in Japan on 6 December 2007, United States July 07, 2008, and expected to be released in the rest of the world by March 2009....
.

Second generation NSX-S (JDM)

The second iteration NSX-S, sold exclusively in Japan, continues with the face-lifted NSX keeping the weight at .

End of the NSX

By 2005, with the original Honda design rapidly heading for its 20th anniversary NSX unit sales amounted to only a few hundred motorcars per year worldwide. Honda deemed continuation of the NSX was not economically viable, considering the very high cost of manufacturing the NSX along with the company's growing interest in producing a new front engined V10 model.

In 1991, the NSX was a technological marvel but today it is considered more a landmark to their earlier F1 racing successes. By 2005 however Ferrari
Ferrari

Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1928 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari Joint stock company....
 had gone from the 348
Ferrari 348

The Ferrari 348 is a Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout V8 engine-powered 2-seat sports car, replacing the Ferrari 328 in 1989 and continuing until 1995....
 (the NSX's original target) through the F355
Ferrari F355

The Ferrari F355 is a sports car built by Ferrari from May 1994 to 1999. It is an evolution of the Ferrari 348 and was replaced by the Ferrari 360....
, F360 and to the F430
Ferrari F430

The Ferrari F430 is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari as a successor to the Ferrari 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show....
. So too, Lamborghini
Lamborghini

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini, is an Italy manufacturer of sports cars, based in the small Italian village of Sant'Agata Bolognese, near Bologna....
 now offered its Gallardo
Gallardo

Gallardo is a Hispanic name....
 in mid-V10 trim and Porsche
Porsche

Porsche SE or Porsche is a Germany automotive industry of luxury vehicle automobiles, which is majority-owned by the Porsche family and Pi?ch families....
 had continuously improved its 911
Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 is a sports car made by Porsche Aktiengesellschaft of Stuttgart, Germany. The famous, distinctive, and durable design is notable for being rear engined like the Porsche-designed Volkswagen Beetle it had been based on....
 marque to previously unseen levels of performance. During the NSX's lifetime, Chevrolet
Chevrolet

Chevrolet is a brand of automobile, produced by General Motors . It is the top selling GM marque, with "Chevrolet" or "Chevy" being at times synonymous with GM....
 produced the C5 and C6 Corvette
Corvette

A corvette is a small, manoeuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a offshore patrol vessel, although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role....
 and Dodge
Dodge

Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and trucks, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
 rolled out the thunderous V10 Viper
Dodge Viper

The Dodge Viper is a V10 engine-powered sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC. Production of the two seat sports car began at New Mack Assembly in 1992 and moved to its current home at Conner Avenue Assembly in October 1995....
, all at a lower cost than the NSX. Yet, Honda still had taken the rigid corporate position of leaving the NSX in virtually original trim, leaving its customers to justify paying over $90,000.

By July 2005, Honda officially announced that it would cease manufacturing NSX and transfer its research and development efforts to the search for its successor. The last US production NSX was sold in Spokane, Washington in the summer of 2006. It was originally supposed to be put in Honda's museum, but was not.

In December 2007, American Honda CEO, Tetsuo Iwamura, confirmed a new NSX powered by a V10 engine
V10 engine

A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinder s in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note....
 would make its introduction into the market by 2010. The new sports car would be based on the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept introduced at the 2007 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show

The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan. It is among the largest auto shows in North America....
. With Honda CEO, Takeo Fukui
Takeo Fukui

Takeo Fukui is the president and CEO of Honda. He is from Tokyo, Japan, though his mother gave birth to him in Hiroshima to escape intensifying air raids during World War II....
, challenging the developers to make the vehicle faster than its rivals, prototypes of the vehicle were seen testing on the Nürburgring
Nürburgring

The N?rburgring, simply known as "The Ring" by enthusiasts, is a motorsport race track in N?rburg, Germany. It was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of N?rburg in the Eifel, which is about south of Cologne, and northwest of Frankfurt....
 in June 2008. On December 17, 2008, Fukui announced during a speech about Honda's revised financial forecast that, due to poor economic conditions, all plans for a next-generation NSX have been canceled.

Honda NSX Mugen RR

In 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon
Tokyo Auto Salon

The is an annual auto show held in January at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Chiba, Japan for Performance and custom dress-up parts and technology display. Hosted by the Nippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee ....
, Honda unveiled a Honda NSX Mugen RR concept vehicle, which included 255/35R18 and 335/30R18 tires, widened front, multi-grooved rear diffuser, adjustable rear wing. The NSX RR is speculated to house a naturally aspirated 5-liter v10 engine

In motorsport


Safety car

Since the beginning of the NSX's production, the car has been used as a safety car
Safety car

In motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a automobile which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as a major accident or obstruction on the track....
 at the Suzuka
Suzuka

Suzuka may refer to:*Suzuka , a Japanese media franchise*Suzuka, Mie, a city in Mie Prefecture, Japan**Suzuka Circuit, a racecourse***1000km Suzuka, a sports car race...
 circuit, even for the Japanese Grand Prix
Japanese Grand Prix

The is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is one of the most-loved F1 events of the season, due to the exciting and challenging layout of Suzuka Circuit which hosted many races in the past, and because of its traditional place at the end of the schedule which means that this event has seen a great number of Champi...
 in its early years of production, and is still used at the circuit. The car is also used for the same role at Twin Ring Motegi
Twin Ring Motegi

is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Tochigi, Japan. Its name comes from the fact that there are two race tracks at the facility: a oval and a road course....
, the other circuit owned by Honda.

24 Hours of Le Mans

The NSX made three appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a sports car racing endurance racing held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance, it is organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and runs on a Circuit de la Sarthe containing closed public roads that are meant not only to test a car and dr...
, in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

Three Honda NSXs were entered in the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans
1994 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 62nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 19 and 20, 1994....
. Cars numbers 46, 47 and 48 were prepared and run by team Kremer Racing
Kremer Racing

Kremer Racing is a former motorsports team based out of Cologne, Germany founded by racing driver Erwin Kremer and his brother Manfred. They have competed internationally with Porsches for nearly all of their existence, and were even one of the factory-backed squads for many years....
 Honda, with Team Kunimitsu assisting and driving the number 47 car. All were in the GT2 class, and all completed the race, but placed 14th, 16th and 18th.

Three Honda NSXs were entered in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans
1995 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 63rd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 17 and June 18, 1995....
. Honda's factory team brought two turbocharged NSXs which were entered in the GT1 class numbered 46 and 47. Car 46 finished but was not classified for failing to complete 70% of the distance of the race winner. Car 47 did not finish due to clutch and gearbox failure. The third NSX, number 84, was prepared as a naturally aspirated car and run by Team Kunimitsu Honda in the GT2 class. This NSX, driven by Keiichi Tsuchiya
Keiichi Tsuchiya

is a professional racing driver. He is also known as the "Drift King" otherwise as Dorikin for his nontraditional use of drifting in non-drifting racing events, and his role in popularizing drifting as a motorsport....
, Akira Iida
Akira Iida

is a Japanese racing driver that is currently competes in the GT300 category of the Super GT series. First driving in the series since 1994, Iida has won five races altogether and took one driver's title in 2002....
, and Kunimitsu Takahashi
Kunimitsu Takahashi

}}| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" }}|-|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Grand Prix motorcycle racing Career|- style="vertical-align: top;"...
, placed 8th overall and first in the GT2 class after completing 275 laps. This NSX was featured in the game Gran Turismo.

For the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans
1996 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 64th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 15 and June 16, 1996....
, only the Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX returned with the same drivers. It completed 305 laps to finish in the 16th position overall, and third in the GT2 class.

Super GT

For use in the Super GT
Super GT

The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a sports car racing race series promoted by the GT-Association ....
, formerly the All Japan GTC
Super GT

The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a sports car racing race series promoted by the GT-Association ....
 and JGTC
Super GT

The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a sports car racing race series promoted by the GT-Association ....
, the NSX has been highly modified (as allowed by series technical regulations) with chassis development by Dome
Dome (constructor)

, literally "child's dream", is a Japanese-based racing car constructor, involved mainly in open wheel racing and sports car racing.Background...
, engine development by Mugen
Mugen Motorsports

Mugen Motorsports is a Japan company formed in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda founder Soichiro Honda, and Masao Kimura. Mugen, meaning "Without Limit", or "Unlimited", is an engine tuner and parts manufacturer closely associated with the Honda Motor Company....
, for Honda
Honda

is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan.The company manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, scooter , robots, jet aircrafts and jet engines, all-terrain vehicle, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical and other mobile technologies....
.

Externally the NSX shape has developed race by race, season to season to the demands of increasing aerodynamic downforce within the regulations. The most notable change is the position of the V6 engine, which is mounted longitudinally instead of transversely as per the roadcar. Similar to the setup used in modern Lamborghini
Lamborghini

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini, is an Italy manufacturer of sports cars, based in the small Italian village of Sant'Agata Bolognese, near Bologna....
s, the gearbox is located in the center tunnel under the cockpit and is connected to the rear differential by a driveshaft. Engines can either be turbocharged or naturally aspirated, depending on the class and on the rules.

The NSX continues to be used as the works Honda car in the GT500 class, even though it is no longer in production.

Honda NSX Super GT Specifications

  • Chassis: Modular extruded carbon, steel subframes must be FIA, JAF approval.
  • Engine: Custom-built Honda
    Honda

    is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan.The company manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, scooter , robots, jet aircrafts and jet engines, all-terrain vehicle, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical and other mobile technologies....
     engine, water-cooled V6
    V6 engine

    A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinder s mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft....
     Normally aspirated (Longitudial-mounted), 3.494 cc
    Cubic centimetre

    A cubic centimetre or cubic centimeter is a commonly used unit of volume extending the derived International System of Units-unit cubic metre and corresponds to the volume of a cube measuring 1?1?1 cm....
    , Airbox
    Airbox

    Electronics The AirBox is a cellular router manufactured by WAAV, Inc. that allows for Wi-Fi Internet in a vehicle....
    , DOHC, 3-valves per cylinder.
  • Power: 500 ps.
  • Fuel: Eneos
    Nippon Oil

    The , or NOC, is a Japanese petroleum company. Its businesses include the exploration, importation, and refining of crude oil; the manufacture and sale of petroleum products, including fuels and lubricants; and other energy-related activities....
     100 RON
    Octane rating

    The octane rating is a measure of the resistance of gasoline and other fuels to detonation in spark plug internal combustion engines. High-performance engines typically have higher compression ratios and are therefore more prone to detonation, so they require higher octane fuel....
    .
  • Lubrication: Mobil 1
    Mobil 1

    Mobil 1 is a brand name developed by the Mobil oil company and now marketed by ExxonMobil.It was introduced in 1974 as a 5w-20 viscosity Fully Synthetic motor oil advertised for use up to 25,000 miles....
    , Castrol
    Castrol

    Castrol is a brand of Industry and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oils, Grease s and similar products for most lubrication applications....
    , Motul
    Motul

    Motul is a small city in the Mexico States of Mexico of Yucat?n, located some 44 km east of M?rida, Yucat?n at . The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipalities of Mexico of the same name....
    .
  • Fuel delivery: Fuel injection
    Fuel injection

    Fuel injection is a system for mixing fuel with air in an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in gasoline Automobile engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
    .
  • Length: 4610 mm.
  • Width: 1900 mm.
  • Height: 1160 mm.
  • Weight: Over 1150 kg
    Kilogram

    The kilogram or kilogrammeThe spelling kilogram is used by the International Committee for Weights and Measures and the U.S....
    .
  • Clutch: AP C/C 5.5" 4 plates pull.
  • Brakes: Alcon.
  • Springs and dampers: Showa
    Showa Corporation

    is a manufacturer of high-performance automotive, motorcycle and outboard suspension systems based in Gyoda, Saitama in Japan.Founded in October 1938 in Japan's drive to develop its military capability in preparation for World War II, Showa supplied aircraft suspension and landing systems to various aircraft manufacturers....
     Double wishbone Push rod inboard dumper.
  • Gearbox: Hewland
    Hewland

    Founded by Mike Hewland in 1957, Hewland is a United Kingdom engineering company specialising in racing car gearboxes. Hewland were the first company to manufacture a bespoke racing car gearbox....
     6-speed sequential.
  • Wheel rims: RAYS Engineering Front: 13J-18, Rear: 13J-18.
  • Tires: Bridgestone
    Bridgestone

    is a multinational rubber Conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a literal translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese language....
    , Dunlop
    Dunlop Tyres

    Dunlop Tyres is a British company owned 75% by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and 25% by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which sells Dunlop branded road tyres in succession to the Dunlop Rubber Company....
     F: 330/40 R18 , R: 330/45 R17.
  • Intake air restrictor: 29.8 mm × 2.
  • Safety equipment: TAKATA 5-point seatbelt, HANS Device.


External links