How Do The Old And New NSX Compare?
The original NSX was above and beyond in terms of driving pleasure so what happens when you compare old and new?
Honda had some very big shoes to fill when the NSX name finally returned. The original received a legendary following by offering supercar performance and every day practicality. All of which was wrapped up in Honda reliability. However, the driving experience is what was truly remembered most. Unlike other supercars from Italy and Germany, this car had no reputation of being a widow-maker. Speed was fun, approachable, and you could exploit every aspect of the car.
That ethos is evidently shared by the new NSX. Purists may bemoan the lack of a clutch pedal, and they may also howl about the electric motors and hybrid system. But the truth is, if that technology had been available to Honda during the original NSX’s development, they likely would have put it to use.
Track performance was also a critical part to the NSX, but the original’s approach was slightly different than the new one. Simplicity could be best used to describe the old one. Power came from a V6 motor, drive modes were dictated by your right foot, and hand-picked gears were ready for your selection.
Comparatively, the new NSX is a technological nerds daydream. Twin turbos, and electric motors and AWD combine to squeeze ever ounce of traction from the four patches of rubber that touch the ground. Comparing old and new is like comparing a prop-driven plane to an F22.
Yet, here we are comparing the merits of both cars. The folks at Roadshow put the two cars in a shootout to see which they prefer. Do they choose the lightweight, analog experience? Or do they prefer the four-wheel drive techno wunderkind using computer power to pound the pavement? There’s only one way to find out.
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