The 1995 Acura NSX-T

 

A Sports Car That Changed How The Modern Sports Car Works

 

 

(If this is the wrong NSX please let me know. Thank you.)

 

     In 1984 Honda contracted Pininfarina to make a sports car called the HP-X (Honda Pininifarina-Xperimental). Eventually the concept involved into the first NSX we all know today. However the NSX I'm going to write about is a Honda sports car sold in the United States by Acura. That car is called the Acura NSX-T.

     The NSX-T is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car equipped with a DOHC 24-valve V-6 that delivers 290 bhp @ 7,100 rpm. Torque is at 224 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm. Top speed is 168 mph and can get to sixty in 5 seconds dead. The engine is coupled to either a six-speed manual gearbox with a stick shift, or a four-speed SportShift automatic with a smart but safe flappy paddle gearbox. Having this makes the engine deliver 252 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. You can also contact a company called Comptech U.S.A., which is the unofficial NSX racing team for American Honda, and have them install a supercharged 425 horsepower NSX engine.         

     The NSX-T's body and chassis are made of aluminum. The connecting rods are made of titanium. The front suspension uses upper and lower A-arms, compliance pivots, coil springs, tube shocks, and an anti-roll bar. The rear suspension uses everything the front suspension uses except for the compliance pivots. The steering is rack and pinion and has a variable electric assist. The brakes are vented aluminum discs with all four wheels equipped with ABS. The NSX-T also has traction control. The NSX-T comes with a 19-pound aluminum targa panel that can be removed. Total weight of the NSX-T is 3,090 lbs.    

     I don't know the price of an NSX-T today but back in the 2000s it cost about $84,000 which was $14,000 more than an original Dodge Viper.

  

 

 

The 2012 Arrinera Venocara Concept
 

Another Polish Supercar For My Polish Viewers

 

      This blog page and car is made to thank a viewer from Poland who visited my blog. Thank you.
      It would turn out that the Arrinera Hussayra was not the first car Arrinera created. The first car they created was called the Venocara, and it looks amazing.
     The Arrinera Venocara is a mid rear-engine (possibly rear-wheel drive) supercar equipped with a 6.2 liter mid-mounted V8 that delivers 650 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque. Top speed is 211 mph and can get to sixty-two in 3.2 seconds which is very good. (I couldn't find the transmission info)
     The Venocara uses a tubular steel chassis and comes with a carbon Kevlar body with carbon fiber and aluminum accents. The brake discs are made of Ceramic. Like the Hussayra the Venocara has a thermal imaging camera that can be added as an extra option. Inside the car includes four-point safety harnesses and roll bars behind the seats to increase safety. The seats are made of leather and the dashboard and other parts inside like the steering wheel are made of composite materials.
     The price for a Venocara in the United States is $160,060, excluding destination charges and local taxes. That is pretty cheap compared to some of its Lamborghini lookalikes.
  

 

 

The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C

 

McLaren's Attack On The Ferrari 458 Italia

   
 

 

     Have you ever wanted a supercar that looks like a Ferrari but is British. If so McLaren has the answer for you in the form of the MP4-12C supercar.

     The MP4-12C is a rear mid-engine rear-wheel drive supercar equipped with a 3.8 liter twin-turbo V8 made by McLaren themselves that produces approximately 592 bhp and around 443 lb-ft of torque. The redline tops off at 8,500 rpm which 500 lest than it's Ferrari 458 Italia rival. Eighty percent of torque is given at 2,000 rpm. However McLaren upgraded the engine to deliver 616 bhp while keeping the carbon dioxide emissions the same. Top speed is 213.2 mph. The MP4-12C can reach 62 mph in a very impressive 3.1 seconds. I'm sure Ferrari is angry about that. The engine is coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission made by Grazio Oerlikon. This has been dubbed the "Seamless Shift Gearbox" and features a system cubbed "Pre-Cog" that allows the driver to preselect the next gear by lightly tapping one of the paddles behind the steering wheel.

     The MP4-12C's chassis is based around a F1 style one-piece carbon fiber tub, called the Carbon Monocell, which weighs 176 lbs. In fact most of the MP4-12C is made of carbon fiber. Other components are used in the construction as well, possibly aluminium. The suspension used is called a ProActive Chassis Control. The PCC has four settings which include Winter, Normal, Sport, and Track. The brakes use cast iron discs with forged aluminium hubs. The tires used are the often reliable Pirelli P-Zeros. High performance tires are also an option. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the MP4-12C is it's airbrake that activates at high speeds and hard braking to help keep the car in control and to prevent it from going too fast.  The MP4-12C also has two seats as opposed to three in the F1.

     The cost of a MP4-12C in the United States is $229,000. That makes it a tiny bit cheaper than the Ferrari 458 Italia.