The Acura NSX, is a 2 seater mid engine sports car manufactured by Honda. In December 2007, Honda announced plans to launch a NSX successor by 2010, based on the styling of the front V10 engined Acura ASCC (Advanced Sports Car Concept), but after a year it was canceled due to poor economic conditions. By December 2011, Honda officially announced a second generation NSX concept. The new NSX is a hybrid sports car powered by 3.5 L twin turboV6 engine and three electric motors, two of which form part of the “SH-AWD” all wheel drive drivetrain. The transmission is a 9 speed dual clutch semi automatic. Its body utilizes a space frame design, which is made from aluminum, ultra high strength steel, and other rigid and lightweight materials, some of which are the world’s first applications. Since the second gen started sales on February 2016 we thought that it was it from Honda, which is justified, but they surprised us at the New York Auto Show with a 2017 Acura NSX GT3.
Exterior design
When You look at the exterior of the new NSX you will not find a lot of differences between the regular NSX and the Acura NSX GT3 variant. It globally has the same design with a few exceptions like up front, where you will notice the GT3 has a new hood that features a much larger vent to assist with engine cooling. Air dam on the front fascia has been made slightly taller with a rather large front spoiler that extends several inches below it and gives it true track ready appearance, with plenty down force on the front axle, and gives more overall depth to the its design. Sides of NSX GT3 has been dialed down in a way where the side mirrors have been moved to the doors, the body line that found its way on the production car is now disappeared and skirts have also been smoothed most likely to assist in air distribution. There have been some changes made to the rear of the car also, mainly to the rear diffuser which has now become more functional, smaller and sharper corner vents, and of course large spoiler attached to the deck lid, which clearly provides plenty of down force on the rear axle. All said above is packed on same “ultra-rigid” and lightweight body wrapped around an aluminum-intensive space frame.
2017 Acura NSX GT3 engine and specs
Engine of the 2017 Acura NSX GT3 will be a 3.5 L, 75 degree, twin turbocharged DOHC V6 block using the same design specifications as the engine in the production 2017 Acura NSX (with no electrical boost in sight), including the block, heads, valvetrain, crankshaft, pistons and dry sump lubrication system. The engine will be paired with a 6 speed, sequential shift racing gearbox, delivering power to the rear wheels (road car’s complex AWD system was ditched in favor of a simpler, RWD setup). The stock NSX, meaning the road version, produces 573 HP and 476 lb-ft of torque with the help of its electric drivetrain, and its speed tops at 191 MPH. With GT3 variant it’s a sure bet to expect 10-15 % increase in every range since it is going on a diet according to FIA GT3 regulations. All in all it’s going to be a beast of a race car as good people of Honda intended it to be, and thanks to its racing pedigree You can bet that it will have its time on the podium!
Interior
While the production NSX cabin is supposed to emphasize comfort and ergonomics, the GT3 cabin is stripped to the bare essentials, according to the FIA GT3 specs. Extensive roll cage, and a carbon fiber racing seat positioned behind a flat bottom sport steering wheel that has a large number of buttons on the left and right spokes and driver information center ahead of the steering wheel that will probably be the home of all the information needed on the track is what is making 2017 Acura NSX GT3 a true racing car, and not your daily driver. Everything is set up and positioned like a cockpit of a fighter jet running 4Gs straight through the clouds. According to the information’s online, everything on the inside, but the cage itself, looks to be made of carbon fiber, with the door skins featuring the NSX GT3 lettering at the bottom.
Release date
The 2017 Acura NSX GT3 is expected to debut next year, probably, spending most of 2016 testing, and Acura expects it to get approved for competition by the fall. Price is a real head popper. For a comparison purpose the Porsche 911 GT3 R goes for $480.000 so we can definitely expect that the NSX GT3 will make its price around that marker.
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