Honda, Nissan Make Sports Car News in Tokyo
Honda further details its Acura NSX supercar and three new turbocharged engines, while Nissan reveals a 600-hp GT-R.
November 19, 2013
Honda and Nissan both reveal more news on their upcoming sports cars ahead of press days at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.
Honda spoons out more details of the Acura NSX supercar, including the move to a longitudinal drivetrain layout from a transverse design. Despite the added expense of the reconfiguration, Motor Trend reports engineers say the switch should improve the car’s driving experience.
Due on sale in the U.S. next year, the NSX still is due to get a hybrid powertrain that has a V-6 twin-turbo gasoline engine and one electric motor that functions as a generator and two other electric motors fitted to each front wheel of the car.
A dual-clutch transmission of an undetermined number of gears also is expected, Motor Trend says.
Acura’s upcoming RLX Hybrid will use a 7-speed DCT and reports out of Tokyo say an 8-speed DCT is in development for the Honda Accord midsize car.
Honda also announces three new turbocharged engines: a 1.0L 3-cyl., 1.5L 4-cyl. and 2.0L 4-cyl. All three mills use direct injection, with Honda citing the horsepower only for the 2.0L, 280-plus. That mill reportedly is bound for the Civic Type R in Europe.
Honda has trailed the competition in the use of advanced engine technology such as turbocharging and direct injection.
The automaker did offer a 2.3L 4-cyl. turbo in the first-generation Acura RDX CUV, but ditched that unit for the second-generation model.
Honda introduced DI last year in mass-market engines with the launch of the ’13 Accord’s 2.4L 4-cyl. and 3.5L V-6, both Ward’s 10 Best Engines winners for 2013.
Nissan uses Tokyo to make sports car news, announcing updates to its GT-R model and introducing the ’15 GT-R NISMO.
The NISMO model is expected to make an eye-popping 600 hp and 481 lb.-ft. (652 Nm) of torque from its 3.8L turbo V-6.
Nissan says the addition of large-diameter turbochargers from the GT3 racing series improves “breathing while optimized individual ignition-timing control for each cylinder improve combustion.”
The NISMO racing GT-R influenced the suspension setup of the mass-production car, which has custom-developed Bilstein DampTronic front and rear dampers and exclusive Dunlop 20-in. tires.
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn claims the GT-R NISMO with track options set the fastest lap time for a volume production car at Germany’s famed Nurburgring, 7:08.679.
The ’15 GT-R NISMO goes on sale in Japan in late February and the U.S. and Europe later in 2014.
Details of the refreshed ’15 GT-R include better optimization of its electronically controlled shock absorbers, which keep tires in steadier contact with the pavement; firmer and more linear braking; multi-LED headlights; and an optional carbon-fiber rear wing, which attaches to the standard carbon-fiber trunk lid.
The ’15 GT-R hits Japanese dealers Dec. 2 and arrives in the U.S. at an unspecified later date.
You May Also Like
