Honda Motor Co., Ltd. yesterday announced that it will discontinue production of the NSX, a vehicle that has enjoyed considerable popularity as pure sports car and won many fans worldwide. Honda is currently working on a successor, a new sports car for a new era, which is to incorporate Honda’s most advanced technology.

The NSX made its debut in 1990 as a genuine mid-engine sports car with an all-aluminium monocoque body—a world’s first for a production vehicle at the time. The NSX continued to evolve, with performance improvements including increased displacement, a 6-speed manual transmission, enhanced aerodynamic performance, and different tyre sizes, along with the addition of the NSX Type-T open-top model and the NSX Type-R pure sports model with further enhanced driving performance. One of the first true sports cars to adopt clean emissions measures, the NSX succeeded in combining exhilarating driving performance with superior environmental performance. As a result, the NSX achieved total worldwide sales of more than 18,000* units during the 15 years it was in production. (*As of the end of June 2005)

Even after NSX production draws to a close, Honda will continue to foster an environment supportive of NSX owners and their enjoyment of their cars, through meticulous maintenance of NSX vehicles, a Refresh Plan to preserve vehicles in their optimum condition, and the continuing support of NSX Owners’ Meetings to assist owners who wish to enhance their driving skills.

Production of vehicles destined for the North American market will be discontinued at the end of December, 2005. Production of vehicles destined for the European market will be discontinued at the end of September, 2005.

Highlights of the History of the NSX

Feb. 1989	NS-X mid-engine sports car prototype introduced at the Chicago Motor Show
Oct. 1989	NS-X exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show
Aug. 1990	Acura NSX went on sale in the US
Sept. 1990	NSX went on sale in Japan
1991	“Owners’ Meetings”, designed to enhance driving skills, inaugurated
Jan. 1992	Custom order interior and body color plan introduced; its range later expanded.
Nov. 1992	Pure sports model Type-R added to the line-up
Feb. 1993	Minor model change (addition of passenger-side SRS airbags, other enhanced equipment)
1993	“Refresh Plan” introduced as premium service for maturing vehicles
Feb. 1994	Minor model change (16/17” aluminium wheels, reinforced brake pads)
Mar. 1995	Minor model change (Drive-By-Wire electronic control, F-Matic manual-feel automatic transmission, open-top Type-T added to line-up)
Feb. 1997	Minor model change (3.2-litre manual transmission model, 6-speed manual transmission, introduction of Type-S)
Sept. 1999	Minor model change (reduced exhaust emissions, enhanced equipment)
Dec. 2001	Minor model change (exterior design changes, 17” tyres front and back)
May 2002	New NSX Type-R model introduced
Oct. 2003	Minor model change (Immobiliser, new body colours)

1990 Honda NSX