2024 has just begun, and carmakers are taking the opportunity to brag about record sales. Acura does that as well, but not when it comes to the NSX hybrid sports car.
The Acura NSX is quite interesting on paper: it comes with the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter JNC1 V6 engine, specifically designed for the NSX, mounted in a unique 75-degree V-angle.
This is how Honda's luxury and performance division managed to achieve a lower center of gravity and reduced vibrations. The engine has such a compact design that its top is located no higher than the top of the tires.
The V6, sitting in a mid-rear layout, powers the rear wheels and works alongside three electric motors. Two of them are placed on the front axle, each coming up with 36 horsepower (36 PS) and 54 lb-ft (73 Nm), while number 3 sits at the rear, generating 47 horsepower (48 PS) and 109 lb-ft (148 Nm).
The three motors, along with the V6, bring a total system output of 573 horsepower (581 PS) and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) into the game. The system is linked to a nine-speed, dual-clutch transmission that can also be operated via the paddle shifters that are mounted behind the steering wheel.
This is how Acura is trying to lure customers. But it seems like the strategy has failed. Last year, the division sold only five cars. That is 98.3% less than the brand sold in 2022, which would be an alarming change for the Japanese if they did not stop the production of the model in 2022. Yet there are several examples still sitting at the dealers, apparently with no chance to find an owner.
Photo: Honda
Acura sold two NSX units in the first month of last year, one in February, another one in March, and that was all for the rest of the year, despite the generous inventory. The price might be disconcerting for customers.
The model starts at $171,495, but can go well over $250,000, with a few options. Customers can't check option boxes because the configurator is offline. So they will just have to settle for whatever the inventory offers if they really want to buy an NSX with only the delivery miles on the odometer.
Otherwise, the used car market is full of models from the previous year, with prices ranging from $99,998 for a car from 2017 with little over 52,000 miles on board, to $226,000 for a 2022 example with 1,800 on the clock.
Expect for the NSX, Acura has not performed badly through last year. The Integra was selected by 32,090 customers, which is 147.1 percent more than in 2022. Meanwhile, Acura sold 16,731 units of the entry-level TLX sedan, up 45.9 percent from the previous year.
Google News