Knowing all of the configurations and features of your current or your prospective vehicle helps you have a better understanding of its abilities and its limitations. With the Acura NSX, you might be curious if this model vehicle has all-wheel drive as a standard feature or an option. We researched this supercar from numerous professional sources so that you can have a definitive answer.
The Acura NSX is an all-wheel-drive vehicle. This configuration is a standard feature and is available on all models.
Now that we know that the Acura NSX has an all-wheel-drive system, we'll take a deeper look at how this configuration works with this model supercar. You might also be wondering why the Acura NSX is so expensive or what the best model year of this car is to buy. Does the Acura NSX hold its value? Is the NSX a reliable vehicle? For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post to see what our research has uncovered.
Inside the Acura NSX All-Wheel Drive
Many supercars include an all-wheel-drive system. This makes them easier to handle at higher speeds, especially when turning corners. What makes the Acura NSX unique is that it has Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. Before we dig into what this is, let's look at what all-wheel drive is and how it works.
All-Wheel Drive Versus Front or Rear-Wheel Drive
In older model production vehicles, the most common configurations were front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. In a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the front axle is the one that receives the power, giving it the torque and traction that it needs to guide the vehicle. The opposite is true of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. In this configuration, the rear axle is the one that receives the power.
All-wheel drive means that the car distributes power among both axles when needed. In most cases, these all-wheel-drive vehicles will be front-wheel drive until the onboard computer determines that the rear wheels need more traction and/torque.
Then, power shifts to these wheels at this time. This shift gives the vehicle the right amount of power on all wheels to balance out the driving. This power shift doesn't require anything from the driver, as the computer will sense the need and do it automatically.
Acura Super Handling All-Wheel Drive
This unique all-wheel drive will transfer power from the front wheels to the rear ones, as well as side to side. Motor Trend outlines how this configuration works in the Acura NSX, stating that it's...
"...kind of like the standard hybrid system but flipped around and made better. In the NSX, two electric motors power the front wheels, with no mechanical connection to the mid-mounted engine. Augmenting that V-6, however, is a third electric motor that improves its responses and fills in torque as its twin turbochargers spool up. That power is sent through a rear transaxle and differential to the rear wheels. The NSX's front electric motors pull the car forward while the rear differential distributes the engine's torque between the rear wheels, providing that "Super Handling" sensation."
Is the NSX a good car?
The NSX is overall a great buy for those who want to own a high-performance supercar. While this type of vehicle isn't for everyone, it's a fun car to drive, and it's sure to last.
The NSX is unique among the supercar class in that it is a hybrid vehicle. Under the hood is a twin V-6 3.5 liter engine, powered in conjunction with three separate electric motors. The NSX is capable of accelerating from zero to sixty miles per hour in a mere 2.7 seconds. The NSX consistently races a quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds. Overall, you can reach a top speed of nearly 200 miles per hour. Test performances have clocked it at 191 miles per hour.
On the downside, this vehicle doesn't have the luxurious interior that you would find in an Audi R8 or a McLaren 570S. There is only one trim level available, but you can customize it to suit your own personal tastes and needs.
Why is the Acura NSX so expensive?
With a nearly $170,000 USD price tag, you might be asking yourself why the Acura NSX is so expensive. The main reason for this is scarcity. The NSX had only 350 of the 2022 models produced. This is not an uncommon size of a production run for this supercar. In the six years of the NSX's lifetime, only 1,400 of them have ever rolled off the assembly line.
The sleek exterior design of the body, coupled with the hybrid drive train, is another reason why the price is high. The twin V-6 engine and the three electric motors aren't exactly cheap to produce and install.
For those who want a high-performance supercar with a great look and feel, the NSX has been at the top of the wish list. This demand, combined with the short production run of the NSX, makes the price tag high.
Does the Acura NSX hold its value?
Determining whether or not the Acura NSX will hold its value is a bit tricky. This is an experimental supercar with an extremely limited number of models on the market, both new and used. Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book will have their own determination as to what the value should be. Still, those numbers aren't necessarily the most important factor in determining resale value with this type of vehicle.
As the NSX is mostly a vehicle that is sought after by collectors and sports car enthusiasts, it's not one that you'll typically see in the used car market. Rather, collectors will hold on to cars such as these, some of whom will speculate as to whether or not they will hold or increase in value.
With the Acura NSX, it is usually a seller's market. Finding a used one can be quite challenging, and when you do, expect to pay a premium price for your discovery.
What is the best year of Acura NSX to buy?
The Acura NSX has been a reliable supercar for the entirety of its production run. And while each production year has had some minor issues that needed to be addressed, those who purchased these vehicles have rated each of the model years highly.
Therefore, it's difficult to determine what year is the best one. Even though the 2022 models have just rolled out, it's speculated that the latest model year might be the best one yet. The hybrid drivetrain, the 3.5 V-6 engine, and the lightning-fast acceleration of the 2022 NSX will certainly make it in high demand among collectors and supercar enthusiasts. But whether or not it will have the same reliability as past years remains to be seen.
All in all, you can expect the Acura NSX to get between 150,000 and 200,000 miles on the engine. Of course, that means that you take care of the maintenance on a regular basis and do repairs timely.
In closing
The Acura NSX is a high-performance supercar capable of attaining speeds of up to 191 miles per hour. For a vehicle to safely run at excessive speeds, an all-wheel-drive system is essential, as it makes it a lot easier to handle. This is really important to have when rounding corners. The high price tag will chase away all but collectors and supercar lovers, but the low number of models produced each year will help to keep the price tags high in the used car market. Drive safe!
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