While most JDM superstars of the 90s tackled mainstream rivals, Honda went after a much bigger fish: Ferrari. Honda introduced the Honda NSX (or the Acura NSX as it was sold in the US) with a bang, a mid-engine supercar that went toe-to-toe with the best in the industry. It was the discussion of every automotive conversation, especially after it was revved so hard at the Detroit Auto Show that it distracted everyone in the adjacent Ford press conference.
At the heart of the NSX was a 270-hp, 3.0-liter V6 engine replete with VTEC technology (although this wasn’t the original plan). It hit 0-60 in 5.2 seconds and blasted through the 1/4 mile in 13.8 seconds, beating the Ferrari 348.
Honda’s Ferrari slaying Formula 1 motorsports division played a significant role in developing the NSX. When a car is partly developed with the inputs of one Ayrton Senna (at least as a marketing exercise), it is no surprise that it was taking on the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, and Aston Martin and flourishing. But despite this, it still had luxuries like air conditioning, incredible visibility, comfort, and more that made it the original everyday supercar.
The NSX also became the first Honda to wear the famous Type R badge.
