Acura NSX

Good news kept on coming from the Detroit Auto Show, car makes really brought their A game to the show. Ford impressed everyone with the coming back of the Ford GT, and it is not the only one with a good comeback, Acura has something to say too, and has brought the NSX back to life.

The NSX was first seen in 1990, its main goal was to compete against the Italian giant, Ferrari, and it proved itself good. It had the supercar spirit, was reliable, also made in Japan, it did a good job. With the newest Acura, Honda is planning to come back in the supercars game, to rewrite its name in history. The first time ever for the concept to be revealed was two years ago, in this same auto show, a year later, Honda gave a glimpse about its interior, and now, they offer the whole package. Honda representatives said that they will be taking orders starting August, at 150k$ the piece.

What you will notice first, it is that the NSX has really evolved, in shape and in spirit. The new NSX is 5.1 inches wider, has an 11.0 inches longer wheelbase and is one inch higher, it surely has been drinking its milk. It looks futuristic, aggressive, ready to devour the tarmac anytime. It comes with a twin-turbocharged DOHC V6 , coupled to three electric motors. The V6 sits in the rear of the car, the electric motors mounted, one rear-drive, and two front-drives. The engines are all coupled to a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission. While on hybrid, the three electric motors send extra torque to the wheels, thanks to Honda’s program Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-wheel-drive system. The V6 engine needs more air, hence the big vents in the sides.

The body is made of Aluminium, high-strength steel, carbon-fiber and other advanced elements, so it is expected to be lightweight. But no, the extra engines, and gadgets, lift the car weight up to 3500 pounds, which is 500 more compared to the older NSX. In the front, the five-block headlamps have left place to skinny rows of six LED’s which are underscored by a thin strip of LED DRL’s. It has new designed ducts. Body panels are made from aluminium. And in the rear, the car has a thin bar of LED lamps. The NSX sits on 19-inch wheels in the front and 20-inch in the rear, that hide six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers carbon-ceramic brakes.

The interior doesn’t get less good treating, it follows the same philosophy as the older NSX “Human Support Cockpit”. It offers to the driver exceptional control, visibility and packaging. The interior is comfortable, has two tones, red and black. Elements used are aluminum (for the structural components) and leather, to cover the whole deal. The car has a TFT instruments cluster, that allows the driver to better control his car, and to chose the drive modes according to his tastes. There are four driving modes : Quiet, Sport, Sport+, and Track.

So, NSX, the car long waited for by car fans, wont be sold until August, until then, people at Honda will be working on fixing fewer details, even on buffing the engines up.

 

New Ford GT

Stop everything that you are doing, hold every horse, and concentrate, because, THE car is here, it is the newest Ford GT, and yeah, the best comes in a new generation, with a lot of carbon-fiber, F1 technology and an engine mounted in the middle.

The Ford GT was first seen in the sixties, then 40 years or a bit more, in 2005, also in the Detroit Auto Show, it was named, the GT 40, because it is 40 inches-long, and it is to celebrate 40 years of the GT. Today, Ford pleases our eyes, and minds with the new one, it looks similar as the previous one, more futuristic, has all the new gadgetry, well, because now we live in the future, it is not the present anymore in the automotive world.

 

Let’s start with what is powering the beast, a 3.5L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, that produces, and hold on to your hats, 600 bhp. That is 50 bhp more than the GT 40, and with a smaller engine. All the power will be channeled to the rear wheels via a seven-speed transmission with paddle shifters. Top speed is estimated to be around 200 mph, and acceleration around 3.0 seconds from stop to 100 kph. The GT 40 is said to compete in the LeMans 24H. Ford did not tell much about the car, but more figures will come.

Ford promises though that the car will have one of the power to weight ratios ever, thanks to its carbon-fiber passenger cell, carbon-fiber chassis, carbon-fiber engine tank and aluminium in the rear and front. Styling looks more European, and that is what catches the eye first, it is not a proper GT. It has active aerodynamics, a deployable rear spoiler, a lot of air vents, to channel the air through all the car’s body. The engine is now under a glass top, that looks more like the Gallardo’s or the R8’s. When you look at it from behind, it is a 458, merged in the spirit of a LaFerrari, side looks, it is an Aventador, with an F12 air vent. but it is still a Ford GT. In the front it still has the same hood, with the same air vents, it still has that angry look, from the GT 40, with LED headlights now, it is still aggressive, and that is what counts. The car has 20-inch alloy wheels, and ceramic breaks.

Interior has adjustable seats, LaFerrari style, adjustable pedals, and wait for it, an F1 looking like steering wheel, with all the buttons, that will do things. It features a digital display, for all the technology geeks. Ford said that the recently introduced Sync3 system will be available in the GT. Doors will till open upwards.

The Ford GT will enter in production in 2016, now Ford is just teasing, it is clear that it will compete against new, yet to be revealed coming cars, the 458 turbo, the McLaren Sport, but competition will surely be fierce.