When someone tells you they just purchased a hybrid vehicle, you probably picture a Prius. And who wouldn’t? They’ve been the most recognizable and prominent of hybrid vehicles for a long time. But as we know, just everybody is throwing their hat in the ring these days, trying to prove that electric cars don’t have to be what your grandmother drives to the supermarket, and Acura is no different; they want to make a real, live, legit supercar that doesn’t rely on just gas. And 2017 Acura NSX achieves is just.
With a market price of $167,579, this car is designed for those who are environmentally conscious, but also want to test the traffic laws in their hometown. Acura makes some great luxury vehicles, but isn’t exactly known for supercars, but that hasn’t stopped them from turning out a pretty snazzy vehicle here. Similar to the R8 in appearance, the NSX is a four-wheel-drive hybrid with three electric motors – one between the twin turbo V6 and two over the front axle. These electric motors function similar to the kinetic reclamation system found in Formula 1 cars, and make up for lost acceleration during gear changes. They also power out a respectable 573 horsepower (this is a hybrid, after all), with 0-60 of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph. A nine-speed, dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive come standard. The only drawback to this performance, however, is that it just doesn’t get hybrid fuel economy; expect about 21 mpg. (But hey, when you’re going 191 mph, fuel economy isn’t exactly important.)
So, like some of the many hybrids and EV’s coming out these days, this is not your typical hybrid at all. The NSX comes across as more of a household blend of the BMW i8’s electric motor idea coupled with the supercar Porsche 918 Spyder’s massive engine and clutch gearbox. It is for the family who does not want to join in the elementary school carpool group with their two-seated behemoth and want to rip through the neighborhood as fast as physically possible. The NSX does show that Acura is making headway out of the family car market and into the realm of powerful mechanic beasts and that is something we are looking forward to in the future.
