For a car that isn’t supposed to appear in production form until next year, we know an awful lot about the 2016 Acura NSX.
We know that it will look road-going Nighthawk jet fighter, that it will have a sophisticated all-wheel drive hybrid system, and that it will be built in Ohio.
However, one important is still missing: the price.
Head of NSX development Ted Klaus recently told What Car? that Acura parent Honda is aiming at the Ferrari 458 Italia in terms of performance, but plans to make its supercar a little less expensive.
Klaus said the NSX will be priced like the Audi R8, and is anticipated to sell in similar volumes.
Related: 2014 Ferrari 458 Spider Review
The R8 starts at $117,150 (including destination) with the 4.2-liter V8 engine and six-speed manual transmission, but the price claims fairly quickly when you add options like the seven-speed S tronic automatic, 5.2-liter V10, or a convertible top.
Final performance figures for the NSX won’t be released until closer to the car’s launch, but if Acura really can offer Ferrari performance at a (base) Audi R8 price, it could be something of a supercar bargain.
The NSX will use a Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system similar in concept to one deployed on the RLX sedan, but with the components moved around. A mid-mounted 3.5-liter V6 will power the rear wheels, while an electric motor will power the front wheels.
While concept versions have been making the rounds at auto shows, the production NSX won’t be unveiled until next year, with deliveries likely to begin in 2016.
We’ll have to wait until then to see exactly how this high-tech hybrid stacks up against the competition.
