GOAT Episode 6: the NSX, Built by Senna

THIS (in all of Doug Demuro’s glory) is the NSX. And it is among the best cars Honda has ever made. It is especially important because Honda hired the services of a formula one champion – the one and only Ayrton Senna, to help them build it. 

It was a time when Honda was a serious Formula One contender – building some of the finest cars on the track. But unlike Ferraris and Lotus, their production models did not do justice to what Honda was capable of.

Honda had something to prove to the people and a road legal track star was much needed. Enter NSX: Honda’s foray into the world of supercars (it continues to be the only supercar they make to this day).

The NSX formula

Sleek supercar design. Light. Place the engine between the axles. V6 VTEC poooowwwwaaaaah, baby! 

Simple enough, right?

The NSX was the world’s first mass-produced car to wear an all aluminium body that did wonders in keeping that weight down.

The aluminium 3.0L V6 engine featured the much honda-boy loved Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control, called VTEC yo! This engine made a healthy-for-the-time, 270hp.

While most true sportscars never offered a 2-pedal option back then, the NSX came with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Now, to dial-in how the car handled, Honda recruited the services of three-time formula one world champion, Mr. Ayrton Senna (legend!), who pushed the car around the twisties to give valuable feedback to the engineering and development team. 

The result?

1365 kilograms. A 0-100 kmph in 6 seconds. Top speed – 270 kmph.

All this for a fraction of what Ferrari would charge for such fun! 

The Japanese commuter-car manufacturer went after the titans and won. Honda made a supercar for the public – one that did not demand the premiums of the Italians.

Sure, the seats were not covered with the finest of leather. The interior was not the most elegant or beautiful. But does it need to be? Do you need all that luxury in a car you want to beat around a canyon?

Famous ‘VTEC, yo!’ faces

We believe the number of people who probably wanted to touch or lean-on a Honda supercar inspired the hit track, ‘can’t touch this’. MC Hammer drilled home this point – stay clear of his NSX.

Maybe Vanilla Ice wrote ‘Ice Ice Baby’ for his NSX too.

Speaking of ice, Ice-T owned one too.

There are way too many famous faces who are secretly Honda fanboys. The list includes Tom Cruise, Bill Gates, Charlie Sheen, Steve Wozniak, Wesley Snipes, Phil Knight, Eddie Jordan, Micheal Jordan, Alice Cooper, and Han Solo! Yeah, seems like the Millennium Falcon is not as easy to park.

This is Honda’s greatest and finest! It will likely be their only supercar, but what a car it is. Prices are rising quickly on these first gen NSXs – if you want one, now would be the time.

The NSX is definitely on my list of mid-engine cars to own. #iwantone.