With the swarm of media around the new NSX Concept, you’d think the car was destined to be next year’s bestseller. But no, it’s just that the NSX lounges on the show floor like a supermodel – one enthusiasts have coveted since before the first production NSX was ever built. It has launched countless automotive love affairs, and sonnets (no, not the Saab) have even been written about the NSX. (OK, I wrote it, but I threw it away.)

 

Why do we love this car? Among all the cars I’ve driven over the last 20+ years in automotive journalism, none has had the precise and satisfying steering of the NSX. It never overwhelmed you with its V6 power, but the engineers clearly knew what they were doing when they set out to build a car that could compete with the very best – yet cost a lot less. Even though the same basic car was sold for 15 years, it still felt as capable and contemporary in its last model year (2005) as when it was first introduced (1991).

 

I’m not alone in my lust for the NSX around here. In 2007, my colleague Tom Mutlchler wrote how disappointed he was that the concept the company showed a few years ago reminded him more of a Dodge Stealth than the hot mid-engine Acura.

 

Tom also wrote about how he’d like to own one some day.

The NSX has been featured as a CR “Personal Pick” for favorite 1990’s sports cars as well as what sports car we’d actually buy.

 

So it seems we’re not alone, either. The buzz and anticipation around today’s unveiling was palpable. Let’s not go so far as to say the air was electric, because then you’d think that we were talking about an electric car. But can the new NSX possibly live up to its past?

Acura says that the new NSX will be built, in Ohio, in three years. The next generation V-TEC V6 with direct injection will drive all four wheels through Honda’s torque vectoring SH-AWD system.
Sounds great.

 

But will Honda be able to recreate some of the magic of the original? The company spent years building its reputation on cars that appealed to people who loved to drive and valued excellent handling over brute horsepower. Then it seemed Honda just pulled the plug on these cars and didn’t replace them with anything that came close: the CRX; Prelude; S2000; and, yes, the Civic Si. (I realize that the Si is still made, but in CR’s evaluations, it took several steps backward with steering that lacks feedback and an engine that no longer sings.)

My guess is that legions of car guys and gals hope Honda gets this one right.

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