→
The Acura NSX frst went on sale in
August 1990 as a model year 1991 car.
At the time, it was the frst production
car with an all-aluminum chassis and
body. The second-generation NSX
emerged in 2004 as a model year 2005
vehicle. Again, all aluminum.
When the third-generation NSX was
unveiled at the 2015 North American
International Auto Show, this time
the structure was multi-material, with
an internal frame with aluminum and
ultra-high strength steel, a carbon
NSX
by Gary S. Vasilash
> Editor-In-Chief
Although the exterior design is
something to behold, the cockpit isn't
any less considered and executed.
Inside the
fber foor, and a body that combines
aluminum and sheet molding compound
panels.
And while much has been made of the
aerodynamic shapes, the functional side
intake/C-pillar, and the low-and-wide
stance, let's face it: the interior of the
car matters in some ways more to the
driver (and passenger) because once
you're in the car, well, you're in it.*
So we talk with John Norman, princi-
pal designer, Acura Interior Styling
Manager, Acura Design, to get the
proverbial and literal inside look for
the new NSX.
What's intriguing to note is what Norman
was doing before he worked on the NSX
interior: "I designed the interiors for the
current and previous MDX, two family-
oriented SUVs in a row."
Given that the MDX was the biggest-
selling (and biggest) Acura, accounting
for 39% of the division's total sales for
2014 (there were 65,603 MDX models
q Ted Klaus, large project leader (a.k.a., chief
engineer) for the new NSX: "Our global team
embraced the challenge to create a new sports
car experience, leveraging new technology to
deliver incredibly vivid performance in a vehicle
that responds intuitively and immediately
to the will of the driver. The NSX delivers
pinnacle supercar performance, with zero-delay
acceleration and exhilarating, confdence-
inspiring driving dynamics."
AD&P; > May 2015 > FEATURE > Inside the NSX > Gary S. Vasilash > gsv@autofeldguide.com
40