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.