Or just burn $500,000
If there is one car currently on the roads that is in dire need to be put to pasture, it's the Acura/Honda NSX. Many automakers have found the sure-fire way to bolster flagging sales is through "special editions" that tack on tons of options for a little price and a previously unavailable color. Honda followed that equation except for the low price. Tons of aerodynamic laundry hung out to dry, silly scoops and wings and no more horsepower. Huh? Only five people will have the "privilege" to own one at the ridiculous price of $500,000. Most of all the new pieces for the GT are made from carbon fiber, hence the high price.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Paul Smithe 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
And you call yourself a car enthusiast site?
Seems you wouldn't know a legendary sports car if it bit you on the arse.
Functional aero seems to be lost on you, not every wing and scoop is "Fast and Furious" just because it's on a "Honda". But, then again, maybe you don't even understand the concept of homologation?
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Ian 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
Not sure why the last poster saw the need for vituperation, but I have to agree that the purpose of this car is pretty darn obvious - to homologate a race car. And the article you linked to says exactly that.
It's not supposed to sell more NSXs, and I very much doubt Honda expects anyone who isn't running an NSX-equipped race team (and probably not even them, given the limited run) to buy this car.
Harley did the same thing with their VR-1000. In fact, as I recall, the only way you could buy that bike was if you had a contact in Poland, which was the only place it was emissions and noise legal.
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Adam 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
I don't believe the writer has a problem with the car itself, it's the silly tactics to extend the life of an aging design. Is carbon fiber body work really worth $500K? Sure it loses a bit of weight, but the NSX isn't exactly overweight to begin with. If Honda is going to produce an expensive, limited edition model then a few extra ponies seems like a reasonable request. Then again, with Honda's attempts to make high horsepower F1 engines, maybe more horsepower isn't a good idea. Who wants their engines blowing up shortly after pulling out of the dealership? How do you spot a BAR-Honda F1 car? Look for the plume of smoke!
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Walter J Keegan Jr 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
My frustrations over waiting too long for a NSX replacement is apparent in my writing. I know what the GT is supposed to do, but wouldn't you rather have a new car than the current car with $400,000 worth of proven areodynamic enhancements?
That's all I was getting at.
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Big daddy cool 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
I've been looking for one of those air scoops for my Fiero GT. Think I can buy one from the parts dept at my local Honda/Acura dealership?
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Nick 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
Maybe they'll use the 2 mil in profit to finance the design of a new model...
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sr20de 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
With all that fancy carbon fiber I guess that means my Ridgeline will be able to tow it now.
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rob rudorf 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
There must be more to that car than the body work.
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Nivola 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
How can the $400,000 premium be justified for the little enhancements offered over the standard model? There must be something suspension (magnesium components?) or chassis (carbon tub?) or engine (again, magnesium?) oriented for such a high price.
"Dress-up items"; yep, that sounds like hardcore, race-proven engineering components worth 4x the standard car.
That all said, I'm sure at least one of the privileged 5 owners also has a "limited edition" gold plated quartz watch they bought for $50K, which they probably justify that it's better than a Patek.
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Chris K 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
Waaaaaaaaaait a minute.... the NSX is a "legendary sports car"?
The 911 is a legendary sports car. The E-Type is a legendary sports car. The Corvette is a legendary sports car. The Ferrari Daytona is a legendary sports car. The NSX is... a sports car. Like the Boxster, 350Z, or XKR, a fine sports car, but certainly not the stuff of legend.
Surely the only reason for this NSX is homogation. Not even the most rabid Honda fan would buy a $500K NSX over a Ferrari for half the price.
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Nicholas 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
Errr..
I am pretty sure that Honda did this to skirt JGTC rules. Since all of the modifications made to said car are on a "production" model, they can use them in the JGTC. Which is probably a good thing since I gather the NSX hasn't been terribly competitive of late versus the Supras and such.
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James 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
this could have the single worst depreciation in automotive history
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James 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
this could have the single worst depreciation in automotive history
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Paul Smithe 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
I was simply commenting on the writer saying, "Tons of aerodynamic laundry hung out to dry, silly scoops and wings"
To me that sounds like someone that doesn't know the difference between a wicker bill and a wicker chair. That's all.
The car is obviously being homologated to allow it to be used in JGTC, etc. The price is indicative of a car of this nature considering the cost to product the CF bodywork and to recoup some of the R&D on the aero bits. It's for serious collectors or someone who is going to actually use it in competition.
And to say that the NSX is not legendary is to to totally ignore the fact that the car turned the "exotic" car market on it's head when it was introduced. Not to mention that some of the initial chassis tuning was done by the late, great Ayrton Senna.
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Ian 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
Geez, at least Nicholas knows what a homologation special is!
Folks, NO-ONE is supposed to buy these cars. They are most probably produced because the series they will be raced in requires a minimum number of units to be produced so that the car qualifies for the formula -- in this case, it's a production formula so it has to be at least nominally a "production" car, rather than a prototype or purpose-built race car.
In practice, all this means is that the race division (Mugen, here?) built 5 extra race cars and Honda's marketing folks spent a day or two putting together promotional materials to reap a little halo effect for the brand. The cars are most probably already destined for a factory-affiliated team - i.e., Honda will sell these cars to themselves - or at most, they will be sold to approved individuals or semi-private teams. So the price is irrelevant - they could call it $2,000,000 or $20,000 and it would make no difference at all.
As for the effect on the NSX replacement, I would speculate that there is none. These cars were most likely hand built on the racing budget, and don't have much of anything to do with the R&D efforts on a replacement.
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Zeke 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
It wouldve been nice for Honda to do something about the NSX other than ignore it. With so many potentially interesting routes to take, a homoglation special is disappointing unless it leads to the next generation.
why no hybrid V6 or V8? where are the cool techno toys? The best mid-engine Japanese car is still a freakin' awesome drive even against the new 911 and other similar cars. Honda probably wont make a new NSX unless they partner with another manufacturer...
Or perhaps they could take a couple of their Hayabusa I4s and siamese them into a 2.0 liter V8 with a 13000 RPM redline...
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sr20de 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
My guess is, with the arrival of the Nissan Skyline and a Toyota Supra replacement, Honda will be compelled to update the NSX with more than just a few new body panels.
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spencer 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
The NSX is overpriced. It runs a 13.3 quarter mile and the skidpad at 89.9g, and costs 3x the price of an STI or EVO, 2x the price of a Corvette that is just as quick, sure it may be technologically superior, but does that really matter when your getting passed by a four door.
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skaedenfeld 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
Hmm...I don't think Suzuki would be very pleased if Honda stole some of their Hayabusa engines.
A better idea, on this line of thinking, would be to take two Valkyrie Rune flat-sixes and make a 3.6 liter flat twelve. Would that thing scream!
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Zeke 10:31PM (12/18/2005)
oops, i got the bike thing wrong... but the valkyrie idea is equally hot. whats the screamer honda, fireblade? either way, those motors would make a killer elise/enzo/911 beater
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