Skip to main content

2013 Detroit Auto Show: Acura NSX Concept has us feeling all ’emotional’

The Acura NSX Concept has stirred up many an emotion within us. First we were excited. Then we were really excited. After a while we became frustrated, followed quickly by bouts of uncontrollable tantrums – we’re talking kid in a toy store here, folks. You see, Acura has been teasing the car for some time now, and despite its recent appearance in Super Bowl ads, movies,  the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and literally everywhere but our driveway,  we’re still a few years away from production. We suppose that’s OK though, as Acura recently lifted the NSX’s darkly-tinted veil, giving us a glimpse into the vehicles stylish innards and hybrid powertrain.

We’re already enamored with the NSX’s design: It’s a sleek, sexy, confident piece of sheetmetal, delivering everything we could possibly desire from Acura’s hybrid supercar. From the look of it, the NSX’s interior will borrow heavily from the exterior’s geometric design, with sharp lines dashing throughout the cockpit. The video below shows a cabin filled with dark maroon leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats. A large LCD screen can be seen atop a wide, scaling center console, accompanied by raised buttons corresponding to car’s  Drive, Park, and Reverse gears. Carbon fiber detailing, stitched suede headliners, and brushed steel brightwork round out the NSX’s stylish interior.

According to Acura’s press release, the configuration seen in the video is merely “one possible direction” the interior could go to highlight Acura’s “Human Support Cockpit” theme. We take that to mean this won’t be the final design, which makes sense given how clean and futuristic it looks. Still, Acura says the NSX Concept will feature what it calls a “Simple Sports Interface,” designed to minimize clutter and allow the driver to focus on the driving experience. And from what we’ve seen here, we’d be happy if even a fraction of the layout made it to production.

Last year, Acura announced its NSX Concept would be  powered by a mid-mounted, direct-injected V-6 engine mated to Acura’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system. We’ve already covered in detail Acura’s SH-AWD system in the 2013 TL, but what makes the NSX unique is that it will utilize an all-new three-motor hybrid system. Acura’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD combines the drivetrain’s dynamic torque vectoring all-wheel drive with three electric motors: one integrated into the V6 engine and two motors driving the front wheels. Acura says the system delivers instant torque during cornering that should set it apart from current AWD systems.

Sadly, no word yet on when exactly the next-gen NSX will enter production, but we do know the hybrid supercar will be manufactured at a new production facility in central Ohio. For now, check out the brief video below and be sure to rifle through the NSX Concept photo gallery above.

Editors' Recommendations

Amir Iliaifar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
Alpine sale: Up to $160 off speakers and subs for your car
alpine speaker sale crutchfield march 2024 car and amp setup on table

If you’re looking to kit your car out with some superior speakers or a subwoofer, Crutchfield is the place to go today. Right now, there’s a huge sale on Alpine subwoofers and speakers with nearly 50 different items forming the sale. As there are so many options, the best idea is to hit the button below to see what’s around. If you don’t know where to start though, read on while we take you through some great items in the sale.

What to shop for in the Alpine sale
Buying the best aftermarket car speakers are important for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road and is currently dealing with a mediocre sound system. One good starting point in the Alpine sale is the 2-way speakers for $104 instead of $130. You get two 2-way speakers with a polypropylene/glass fiber/mica woofer with a specialized rubber surround. There’s a one-inch silk dome tweeter with speakers able to handle up to 80 watts RMS with 240 watts peak power. The grilles aren’t included but the factor ones should be fine for most purposes.

Read more
Mercedes to trial humanoid robots for ‘low-skill, repetitive, demanding’ jobs
Apptronik's Apollo robot at work in an auto plant.

Humanoid robots have been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years, and some major companies are starting to take note.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Texas-based robotics specialist Apptronik to collaborate on identifying applications for highly advanced robots that the auto giant could deploy. The deal will involve a trial that will see Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot work alongside Mercedes' human workers on the factory floor.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9: price, release date, range, and more
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Front

Hyundai has been at the forefront of EV development for a while now, largely thanks to the success of the crossover-sized Hyundai Ioniq 5. But the company is readying another new EV that could be even more popular than the Ioniq 5 -- or at least more desirable in the U.S., the land of big cars.

The upcoming Ioniq 9, previously set to be called the Ioniq 7, will be Hyundai's take on an electric SUV. It will be to Hyundai what the Kia EV9 is to Kia. It will have three rows and carry over design elements from the Ioniq 5.

Read more