Running The Numbers On The Acura NSX

The Acura NSX was likely going to be the most anticipated debut at the quickly approaching North American International Auto Show and with the cat out of the bag on the Cadillac CTS-V and the Audi Q7, Detroit is Acura's playground. We are only a few weeks away from seeing the final product and hearing the specs for the first time but many months away from actual performance tests making now as good a time as any to run some numbers on Acura's upcoming supercar contender, virtually. Going from a front mounted V10 concept nearly a decade ago, the second generation returns with a more authentic mid engine layout but with twin-turbos for the V6 and electric motors giving all wheel drive capability. The brand new, and seemingly unrelated to any current Honda V6, twin-turbo V6 is rumored to be around 3.7 liters in displacement. Similar sized powertrains make anything from 500 to a shade over 600 horsepower in various performance applications. Given Honda's history with turbo engines and a potential desire to reach some MPG targets with the hybrid powertrain it is hard to see a heavily boosted engine so something around 525 horsepower out of the V6 is a good basis. Nothing wrong with getting more than less here though. The RLX hybrid setup is good for an additional 67 horsepower towards peak output so when all is said and done a number of 600 combined horsepower seems very logical. Seeing the inherent weight penalty on the RLX hybrid with this setup it is hard to see the NSX dipping much below 3,750 pounds. Given the all wheel drive grip and the electric motor torque the NSX should be as quick as anything not purely exotic off the line to 60. Figure a time of 3.2 seconds or even slightly better to 60 and anything over 3.5 seconds would be a pretty big disappointment. The NSX should lose some momentum as speeds pick up going through the 1/4 mile in around 11.5 seconds with a trap speed of about 125 miles per hour placing it right in the middle of some very established competition. Competition due for replacement or thorough updates around the same time frame. It is game on for Acura and only time will tell if the newest NSX can ultimately deliver what promises to be 458 Italia performance for Audi R8 price and how it will play with the Z06, GT-R and 911s of the world.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP-550 Balboni vs. Ferrari 458 Italia Drag Race

Two of the finest sports cars of the world face off in a drag race.

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari has released a batch of photos of its latest creation, the 458 Italia. The Italia is the replacement for the F430. Unlike the California, the 458 Italia is a pure performance machine. Like the California, the 458 also gets a direct injection V8, that's put in front of the rear wheels like it was in the F430. Ferrari says that the 458 is a "massive leap forward" from the F430. The massive leap forward begins under the huge glass rear window, where the new V8 is good for 562 horsepower and 398 pound feet of torque. Significantly better than the F430's 490 hp and 343 lb-ft. Thanks to direct injection the fuel economy is also improved and C02 emissions fall 24%. The new V8 gives the Italia almost identical engine specs to its nearest competitor, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560. However, the Gallardo's power figures are probably very conservative based on its 130 mile per hour quarter mile trap speed. Nevertheless, the 458 Italia should be able to keep up with the Gallardo and Ferrari quotes 0-62 mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph. The 458 also takes a giant leap forward with styling, breaking away from the F430 and the 360 Modena. The 458 might remind many of the Enzo, especially form the side and the rear. Compared to the F430 the Italia has smaller air intakes upfront while the headlights have been squished form the sides and feature LEDs. At the rear two lights replace the 4 seen on the F430. The tailpipes migrate to the center and there are three of them. Ferrari states that a lot of the design of the Italia comes from aerodynamics. While this is good for downforce, the design isn't as good looking as the F430. However, if you were not a fan of the F430 you will likely appreciate the Italia more. Still, the 458 promises to raise the bar on performance and that's what Ferrari should really be about in the first place.