Photo: Porsche
Benchmarking is a common habit in the automotive industry, and most manufacturers do it. If they do not, they should get going.
Acura and Honda have done the same when preparing their 2017 NSX model, as vehicle dynamics project leader Nick Robinson has revealed. In the case of the Japanese corporation, two competitor cars were bought and tested in undisclosed locations to assess the performance of the 2017 NSX in comparison to them.
One of the models was a Porsche 911 GT3, which was bought by Honda Motor Company’s American division as a benchmark for the steering of the NSX. The other model was a McLaren MP4-12C. In the case of the latter, its dealer had noticed that the peculiar customer had driven the car up to 205 mph, and was concerned it has not happened on a racetrack, but Porsche’s story is much more fascinating.
At the time of testing, the Porsche 911 GT3 was subjected to a recall campaign. Every vehicle had to come to the dealer for a significant fix to its engine, so Honda’s representatives had to send their 911 as well. Since the car was purchased to appear as if a regular customer had owned it, as most automakers do, they did not try to conceal the real owner of the vehicle.
Porsche somehow found out about the 911 GT3 being benchmarked by Acura, and an opportunity arose for the representatives of the German brand. Instead of pranking the peeps in charge of NSX development the old fashioned way, Porsche engineers decided to leave a written message under the engine cover of the 911 GT3, as if they had already guessed the intentions of the actual owners of the vehicle.
As Nick Robinson explained to Automotive News, the note wrote: “Good Luck Honda from Porsche. See you on the other side.” The dynamic project leader and 2016 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Class Winner Nick Robinson was both surprised and impressed by the kind message sent by Porsche technicians.
Meanwhile, back in the McLaren camp, Robinson claims the British automaker’s representatives “have not caught on” who was the real owner of the 12C. If they did, they kept quiet about the whole thing.
One of the models was a Porsche 911 GT3, which was bought by Honda Motor Company’s American division as a benchmark for the steering of the NSX. The other model was a McLaren MP4-12C. In the case of the latter, its dealer had noticed that the peculiar customer had driven the car up to 205 mph, and was concerned it has not happened on a racetrack, but Porsche’s story is much more fascinating.
At the time of testing, the Porsche 911 GT3 was subjected to a recall campaign. Every vehicle had to come to the dealer for a significant fix to its engine, so Honda’s representatives had to send their 911 as well. Since the car was purchased to appear as if a regular customer had owned it, as most automakers do, they did not try to conceal the real owner of the vehicle.
Porsche somehow found out about the 911 GT3 being benchmarked by Acura, and an opportunity arose for the representatives of the German brand. Instead of pranking the peeps in charge of NSX development the old fashioned way, Porsche engineers decided to leave a written message under the engine cover of the 911 GT3, as if they had already guessed the intentions of the actual owners of the vehicle.
As Nick Robinson explained to Automotive News, the note wrote: “Good Luck Honda from Porsche. See you on the other side.” The dynamic project leader and 2016 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Class Winner Nick Robinson was both surprised and impressed by the kind message sent by Porsche technicians.
Meanwhile, back in the McLaren camp, Robinson claims the British automaker’s representatives “have not caught on” who was the real owner of the 12C. If they did, they kept quiet about the whole thing.
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