The Honda NSX: A Legacy of Supercar Innovation
Avishka Chandeepa
Posted 11 December 2024

The Honda NSX had a tough task ahead of it, to match its European rivals both on the track and the road. However, unlike its ostentatious Italian counterparts, the NSX prioritizes precision engineering and driver engagement over sheer horsepower and flamboyant design. Honda envisioned to create a supercar that wasn't just about brute strength or exotic appeal, but one that embodied balance, reliability, and accessibility without sacrificing performance.
When the NSX debuted in 1990, it entered a competitive arena populated by legends like the Ferrari 348, Porsche 911, and even the Lamborghini Diablo. While these cars show cased raw power and dramatic aesthetics, they were often criticized for temperamental handling, high maintenance costs, and driver-unfriendly quirks. The NSX stood out as a refreshingly modern approach to the supercar formula, blending Japanese reliability and innovation with thrilling performance.
Origins of the Honda NSX: The First Generation (1990-2005)
The "New", "Sportscar" "eXperimental", when unveiled in 1990, proved to be quite a revelation. Its mid-engine layout, featuring a longitudinally mounted 3.0L naturally-aspirated V6 engine, offered exceptional balance and weight distribution. This innovative powerplant, codenamed C30A, delivered a smooth and responsive driving experience, prioritizing handling and driver control over raw power. The chassis, constructed from a lightweight and incredibly rigid aluminum frame, further emphasized the NSX's focus on precision handling.
Beyond its technical prowess, the NSX's design was a masterpiece of understated elegance. The sleek, aerodynamic lines combined with pop-up headlights created a timeless aesthetic that has aged remarkably well. The interior, while not overflowing with luxury appointments, prioritized ergonomics, and driver comfort, further emphasizing the car's performance-oriented nature.
Technological Innovation
The NSX wasn't just about performance; it was a showcase of Honda's engineering prowess. It was the first production car to utilize an almost entirely aluminum frame, offering significant weight savings compared to traditional steel. This innovative approach not only enhanced agility but also offered superior strength. Additionally, the NSX featured cutting-edge technologies like a four-channel anti-lock braking system and electric power steering, further contributing to its exceptional handling and driver engagement.
The wheels were meticulously crafted from forged billet aluminum, and bespoke Yokohama tires ensured exceptional grip. The legendary Italian design house Pininfarina, who worked with Honda on the original designs, returned for the aesthetic, drawing inspiration from racing boats and the wraparound canopy of an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter, resulting in a design that offered superb visibility and speed.
Reinvention: The Second Generation (2016-2022)
After an 11-year hiatus, the Honda NSX nameplate returned in 2016, but this time, it represented a complete departure from its predecessor. It retained the iconic name and the mid-mounted engine layout, but everything else was entirely new.
This bold decision reflected the changing automotive landscape. Years of speculation about a new Honda sports car, possibly featuring some form of electrification, had finally materialized. As the global economy recovered from the 2008 crisis, Honda unveiled a groundbreaking all-wheel-drive concept car in 2012, showcasing a hybrid drivetrain – a pioneering move that predated the arrival of hyper cars like the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918, and McLaren P1. A revised concept was presented in 2013, further solidifying the direction for a production model.
The 2016 NSX embraced the new era of performance. A twin-turbocharged V6 engine worked in concert with three electric motors, producing significantly more power than its predecessor while retaining the core NSX principles of exceptional handling and driver engagement. This innovative hybrid system offered the best of both worlds: exhilarating acceleration courtesy of electric motors and the visceral experience of a gasoline engine.
Furthermore, the new NSX incorporated advanced technologies like a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system and a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission. These advancements further enhanced handling capabilities and overall performance, ensuring the NSX remained competitive in a rapidly evolving supercar landscape.
However, the adoption of a hybrid powertrain and a more aggressive design language divided some enthusiasts. While many appreciated the technological advancements and the increased performance, some lamented the departure from the naturally aspirated engine and the minimalist aesthetic of the earlier generations.
The 2016 NSX marked a new chapter for the legendary nameplate. It embraced the future of performance while staying true to the core principles that defined the original NSX – a commitment to exceptional handling, driver engagement, and innovative engineering. The future of the NSX remains uncertain, but its legacy as a pioneer in supercar design and a testament to Honda’s engineering prowess is undeniable.
Current Pricing and Import Process
Importing cars from Japan comes with regulations that may vary across countries. If you're considering importing one, here's a breakdown of the process to help you navigate the legalities and logistics: Honda NSX Base Grade models sold between $24,000 and $41,000. Honda NSX Base Grade models sold between $74,000 and $100,500. Honda NSX Type R models are on the expensive side, sold for about $205,000 to $270,000, depending on the specifications.
These prices were based on actual recent data from the past 12 weeks of the Japanese auctions in December of 2024 and the USD-JPY exchange rate at the current time. For more detailed data, please reach out to us and we'd be happy to help you with budgeting (including export fees and shipping up to the destination port) and purchasing a Honda NSX from the Japanese auto auctions.
This what a standard auction sheet looks like, this auction sheet is specific to a Honda NSX that presented in a auction. Auction sheets are a key part of any auction, they contain important information such as mileage, Auction Grade, Damage Report and many other key pieces of information.
Eligibility and Regulations:
Age: To comply with US regulations set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the NSX you import must be 25 years or older. This means the earliest eligible models for import would be from 1999 or earlier.
Modifications: Any modifications made to the vehicle from its original specifications must be documented and approved by the NHTSA.
Import Process
Contact us at ZervTek to start the process of obtaining the vehicle of your dreams; you can browse through our site auctions.zervtek.com, which grants free access to Japanese Auto Auctions, and browse through over 100,000+ vehicles each week in over 100+ auctions across Japan. We provide translations for auction sheets (condition reports) of vehicles and get you additional photos and videos before the auctions. You can find sales data for vehicles (prices they were previously sold for, etc.) and average prices the vehicles go for at the Japanese Auctions.
Inspections are done when requested, and you can observe the car more closely as the inspector goes to the auction house itself, takes pictures of each corner and interior of the vehicle, and videos of the car's engine.
We can ship with containers or RoRo (Roll-On, Roll-Off). RoRo is the most popular, and accessible to individual customers. From country to country, the shipping cost will vary and other factors may also affect the cost.
Summary.
The Honda NSX, a one of a kind supercar, redefined the segment by combining Japanese precision, reliability, and driver-focused engineering with thrilling performance. Debuting in 1990, the first generation featured a lightweight aluminum chassis, a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V6 engine, and innovations like electric power steering, setting it apart from temperamental European rivals like the Ferrari 348 and Porsche 911.
After an 11-year hiatus, the second-generation NSX returned in 2016 with a hybrid powertrain blending a twin-turbo V6 and electric motors, offering cutting-edge all-wheel-drive technology and exceptional handling. While some enthusiasts debated its departure from the minimalist aesthetics of its predecessor, the NSX retained its core philosophy of balance and innovation. For those seeking to own this iconic JDM legend, platforms like ZervTek streamline the import process with access to Japanese auctions, detailed vehicle inspections, and tailored shipping options, ensuring a seamless acquisition experience.