Honda to Discontinue Production of the NSX Sports Car
Tuesday, July 12th, 2005
Filed under: Honda, NSX
Honda has announced that it will discontinue production of the NSX, a vehicle that has enjoyed considerable popularity as pure sports car and won many fans worldwide. The production discontinuation is due to the extensive retooling necessary to meet stringent 2006 emissions and equipment regulations for the U.S., Europe and Asia. Honda is currently working on a successor, a new sports car for a new era, which is to incorporate Honda’s most advanced technology.
The NSX made its debut in 1990 as a genuine mid-engine sports car with an all-aluminum monocoque body - a world’s first for a production vehicle at the time. The NSX continued to evolve, with performance improvements including increased displacement, a 6-speed manual transmission, enhanced aerodynamic performance, and different tire sizes, along with the addition of the NSX-T open-top model and the NSX-R pure sports model with further enhanced driving performance. One of the first true sports cars to adopt clean emissions measures, the NSX succeeded in combining exhilarating driving performance with superior environmental performance. As a result, the NSX achieved total worldwide sales of 18,000 units during the 15 years it was in production.
With production coming to an end, orders will be accepted in each region until production capacity limitations make discontinuation necessary. The production of the model for the European market will end in September, 2005.
Highlights of the History of the NSX
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Feb. 1989 |
NS-X mid-engine sports car prototype introduced at the Chicago Auto Show |
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Oct. 1989 |
NS-X exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show |
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Jul. 1990 |
Acura NSX released in the US |
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Sept. 1990 |
NSX released in Japan |
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1991 |
“Owners’ Meetings”, designed to enhance driving skills, inaugurated |
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Jan. 1992 |
Custom order interior and body color plan introduced; its range later expanded. |
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Nov. 1992 |
Pure sports model Type-R added to the line-up |
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Feb. 1993 |
Minor model change (addition of passenger-side SRS airbags, other enhanced equipment) |
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1993 |
“Refresh Plan” introduced as premium service for maturing vehicles |
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Feb. 1994 |
Minor model change (16/17″ aluminum wheels, reinforced brake pads) |
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Mar. 1995 |
Minor model change (Drive-By-Wire electronic control, F-Matic manual-feel automatic transmission, open-top Type-T added to line-up) |
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Feb. 1997 |
Minor model change (3.2-liter manual transmission model, 6-speed manual transmission, introduction of Type-S) |
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Sept. 1999 |
Minor model change (reduced exhaust emissions, enhanced equipment) |
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Dec. 2001 |
Minor model change (exterior design changes, 17″ tires front and back) |
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May 2002 |
New NSX-R model introduced |
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Oct. 2003 |
Minor model change (Immobilizer, new body colors) |
