HONDA NSX 1997-2002 Photos, engines & full specs

When Honda introduced the NSX in 1991, it sent a massive shockwave in the motoring industry and proved that a supercar could be used as a daily driver and, in 1997, it improved the vehicle.

The three letters from its nameplate came from New Sportscar eXperimental, and it featured a unit body built from aluminum. Its mid-mounted engine and the independent suspension in all corners made the car very agile. When the pre-production car was ready, the legendary Formula 1 pilot Ayrton Senna drove the NSX, and, in a few words, he sent back the engineering team to improve the car and delayed the launch of the production model for eight months. But the final result exceeded everyone's expectations and improved the car's rigidity by 50%. By 1997, the NSX was globally known, and the customers asked for more straight-line performance, not only excellent handling.

For the 1997 model, Honda made a few changes to the bodywork. For starters, it replaced the front bumper and included a wider central grille. The most significant change was for the greenhouse. On the original version, the NSX sported black pillars and roof, while after 1997, they were body-colored. A new set of light-alloy wheels made it on the options list.

Inside, there was a slight change on the instrument panel, which was no longer black as on the original version. The carmaker also offered a choice for steering wheels. Other than that, it was the same user-friendly interior that Honda produced for the 1991 NSX.

The most significant improvement on the car was the drivetrain. Honda introduced a new, 3.2-liter V-6 engine paired to a six-speed manual. For the automatic version, the carmaker kept the older setup with a 3.0-liter and a four-speed gearbox.