February 1989 - Acura unveils a new high-performance,
mid-engine sportscar. The NS-X world debut takes place at the Chicago Auto Show
on February 9th. "New Sportscar eXperimental" is the first supercar
from Japan.
June 1989 - A select group of American automotive journalists
are invited to Japan to test drive two prototypes of the exotic NSX, more than
a year before its scheduled on-sale date. The exclusive trip is so far in advance
that engine specifications are still tentative.
August 1990 - NSX goes on sale as a 1991 model, the
first production car with an all-aluminum chassis and body. The aluminum unit
body weighs only 462 pounds, 40% less than steel, with the equivalent strength.
- The car is powered by 3.0-liter, DOHC, 24-valve, V-6 engine mated to a 5-speed
manual transmission, good for 270 hp, 210 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 mph time
of under six seconds. Acura's breakthrough VTEC(TM) (Variable Valve
Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system also makes its U.S. debut in the
NSX, solving the trade-off between low-end torque and high-RPM power.
- The vehicle also comes with PGM-FI, a system pioneered in Formula One racing,
as well as a direct ignition system. NSX is also the first production car
to use titanium connecting rods- this lightweight but strong material is also
used in the F-15 supersonic fighter jet.
- Each car is hand-assembled by a special team of technicians at a dedicated
factory in Tochigi. Production of the NSX is a maximum of 25 vehicles per
day. At $65,000, the NSX is the most expensive Japanese car in history.
Summer 1990 - NSX graces the cover of every major automotive
"buff book" in the country.
November 1990 - In its first year, NSX garners an impressive
list of accolades, including:
- "Top Ten Performance Cars", Motor Trend
- "Ten Best Cars in the World", Road & Track
- "Automobile of the Year" and "Design of the Year",
Automobile
- "Best of What's New", Popular Science
- "Design and Engineering Award", Popular Mechanics
1991 - Motor Trend names NSX "the best sports
car ever built."
1991 - The Comptech Racing Acura-Spice GTP Lights race car,
powered by a modified Acura NSX engine, carries driver Parker Johnstone to the
Manufacturer's and Driver's Championships in the prestigious International Motor
Sports Association (IMSA) GTP Lights series.
1991 - NSX posts first year unit sales of 1,940.
1992 - Parker Johnstone and the Comptech Racing Acura-Spice
GTP Lights racecar win second IMSA championship in a row.
1993 - A third consecutive championship win in the
Acura-Spice GTP Lights race car makes Parker Johnstone the most winning driver
in IMSA history.
1995 - The NSX-T features a removable roof panel, and
is the first Acura to offer an optional Formula One-inspired Sequential SportShift(TM)
automatic transmission.
1997 - NSX/NSX-T takes a giant step forward in performance
with several major enhancements, most notably a larger, more powerful 3.2-liter
DOHC, 24-valve V-6 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, producing
290 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque.
1997 - Peter Cunningham wins the Sports Car Club of
America (SCCA) World Challenge Championship in a modified NSX.
November 1998 - Acura unveils the 1999 Alex Zanardi
Edition NSX at the Miami International Auto Show. Available only as a hard-top
coupe, the signature series car takes its name from the two-time CART open-wheel
racing championship driver. Only 49 copies of this limited edition model are
available, featuring a revised suspension and exclusive interior and exterior
styling cues. The Zanardi edition is also 149 pounds lighter and comes exclusively
in Formula Red.
2000 - NSX receives a Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) certification
from the Air Resources Board, a testament to Acura's innovation and industry-leading
technology.
2002 - NSX receives an exterior refresh with new front
and rear fascias including HID Xenon fixed-mount headlights and revised taillights.
In addition, the NSX also receives a revised suspension and larger wheels and
tires.
2004 - NSX receives a trunk-mounted CD changer and a
keyless entry system.
December 2004 - Cumulative NSX sales in the US total
8,733 since introduction.
July 2005 - Acura announces that a replacement vehicle
is under development and that the current generation NSX will halt production
at the end of the year.