The origins of the NSX trace to 1984 with Honda's HP-X (Honda Pininfarina eXperimental) concept, which envisioned a 3.0-litre V6 rear mid-engine sports car. Honda aimed to meet or exceed the performance of Ferrari's then-current V8 range while offering greater reliability and a lower price. The project evolved through several name iterations — the designation NS-X stood for New, Sports car, eXperimental — before reaching production.
The first-generation NSX was designed by a team led by Chief Designer Masahito Nakano and Executive Chief Engineer Shigeru Uehara. The car drew aerodynamic inspiration from the cockpit of the F-16 fighter jet, and during its final development stages received input from Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna, whose feedback helped refine the chassis and steering feel.
It was the first production car in the world to feature an all-aluminium semi-monocoque structure. Power came from an all-aluminium 3.0-litre V6 engine equipped with Honda's VTEC variable valve timing system, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. From 1994 a 4-speed SportShift automatic, also known as F-Matic, became available. The car was presented at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show and went on sale in 1990.
A targa top variant was added from 1995. A performance update in 1997 brought a larger 3.2-litre V6, and a facelift in 2002 replaced the pop-up headlights with fixed units. The internal engine designations — NA1 for the 3.0-litre C30A and NA2 for the 3.2-litre C32B — reflect the fitted engine rather than the bodywork generation, so both pre- and post-facelift cars exist in both codes depending on transmission specification.
Production ended in December 2005. Fewer than 20,000 first-generation units were produced globally, a scarcity that has kept used values high.
After a development programme that was cancelled in December 2008 due to the global financial crisis, Honda revived the NSX project in 2011. The concept was unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show and the production version debuted at the 2015 edition of the same event.
Unlike the first generation, which was built in Japan, the second-generation NSX was designed, engineered, and assembled by hand in Marysville, Ohio, at Honda's dedicated Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC), a purpose-built US$70 million facility. Global Large Project Leader Ted Klaus oversaw development.
The powertrain centred on a bespoke twin-turbocharged, 75-degree 3.5-litre DOHC V6 engine — designated JNC1 — producing 500 hp, mounted longitudinally in a mid-rear position. Three electric motors supplemented the combustion engine: two on the front axle enabling torque vectoring as part of the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, and one at the rear. Combined system output reached 573 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque. Drive was channelled through a world-first 9-speed dual-clutch transmission with an integrated limited-slip differential. The body used a multi-material space frame combining aluminium, ultra-high-strength steel, and carbon fibre, achieving a front-to-rear weight distribution of 42/58.
The first production example, VIN #001, was auctioned at Barrett-Jackson on 29 January 2016 for US$1.2 million, with proceeds donated to charity. NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick was the winning bidder. The first customer deliveries in the United States were registered in June 2016.
A 2019 model-year update added stiffer anti-roll bars and revised suspension tuning, yielding a 1.9-second improvement around the Suzuka Circuit. A final limited-production NSX Type S was announced in August 2021 for the 2022 model year, with power raised to 602 hp using new turbochargers sourced from the NSX GT3 Evo race car, uprated intercoolers, new fuel injectors, revised gearing for the front electric motors, and aerodynamic elements including a carbon-fibre rear diffuser. The Type S was limited to 350 units worldwide — 300 for the US, 30 for Japan, 15 for Canada. The VIN #001 Type S was again purchased by Rick Hendrick at auction for US$1.1 million, with all proceeds going to charity. Production of the NSX ceased in November 2022 after a total worldwide run of 2,908 second-generation units.
The second-generation NSX underpinned a broad motorsport programme. In the Japanese Super GT Series, Honda raced the NSX Concept-GT in the GT500 class from 2014 before replacing it with the NSX-GT, which won the 2018 championship with Jenson Button and Naoki Yamamoto driving for Team Kunimitsu. A GT3 version, the NSX GT3, debuted in 2017 and achieved victories in the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class at Belle Isle and the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen in its first season. An upgraded NSX GT3 Evo followed for 2019, winning the IMSA GTD drivers' and teams' titles that year and again in 2020.
The NSX name has been significant in two separate chapters of Honda's history. The first generation demonstrated that a Japanese manufacturer could produce a sports car capable of challenging European exotics on both performance and everyday usability, breaking ground with its all-aluminium construction and Senna-refined dynamics. The second generation extended that legacy into the era of hybrid performance, becoming one of the first cars in its class to integrate electrification meaningfully. Honda's decision to discontinue the model in 2022 without a confirmed successor closed a chapter but left a substantial imprint on the sports car landscape.