We’ve already seen the all-new Honda NSX halo-car when it was unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and then many times subsequently, but now it’s made the journey to South Africa and JIMS. The Honda NSX is the Japanese manufacturer’s halo-car that promises to offer Porsche 911 comfort and everyday usability with Ferrari 458 Italia levels of performance.
Earlier this year, Honda announced itself as an F1 engine supplier to McLaren in 2015 and aside from F1, a deeper co-operation seems set to spread between McLaren’s automotive division and Honda, and Honda admits that working with McLaren is a huge opportunity for the brand that takes them into a potentially exciting new era with the NSX. McLaren’s development methodology and advanced electronics are two spheres where they might best benefit from a partnership and the Honda NSX will benefit from many F1 development techniques like computational fluid dynamics to get the car’s shape as efficient as possible.
The hybrid powertrain in the Honda NSX Concept is a mid-mounted V6 engine mated to Honda’s innovative new three-motor Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system and it’s being developed in Japan, while and the chassis is being worked on in the U.S. Lots of development and tuning work will take place in Europe and as is the way with new cars, there will be plenty of time spent on the Nurburgring as well.
