The Children of the Revolution
Can Honda’s hybrid supercar really dethrone the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini? James Fossdyke finds out
Deposing world leaders is a dangerous game. Guy Fawkes’ efforts didn’t do him much good, and the Peasants’ Revolt didn’t do anything for Wat Tyler’s health either. More recently, we’ve seen football clubs attempt to stab UEFA in the back, and that really went down badly. Even voting in a new American president caused violent protests.
Despite the lessons of history, Honda has always liked taking on the elite. This Japanese company, known for motorbikes, ride-on lawnmowers and hatchbacks for octogenarians, is surprisingly successful when it comes to beating automotive royalty.
Take the original NSX. It didn’t look all that amazing, but it squared up to the Ferraris and Porsches of this world and gave them a good thrashing. It was as though the little old lady in the corner of the pub suddenly stood up, took all the drunk Jack-the-lads outside and beat them over the head with her handbag. It was a wonderful thing.
These days, however, the NSX is a different kettle of fish. Far from being a supercar-slayer, it exists to defend the honour of the supercar, returning the upstarts in modified Mitsubishis to the boxes from whence they came. The poacher has turned gamekeeper. To help it in this new role, the latest-generation NSX has plenty of firepower. A 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine is teamed with three electric motors to produce a not-inconsiderable 572bhp, and the combination also allows this car to drive in planet-saving silent electric mode. Not that Greenpeace will dish out medals to anyone who buys a bright orange supercar.
Which is why you might expect this car to have some kind of identity crisis. You might imagine it as some sort of Greta Thunberg/Jeremy Clarkson mashup that morphs like Gollum whenever you press the ‘sport’ button. And there is an aspect of that.
From the outside, the NSX is every inch the supercar, with huge vents behind the doors and a glass panel above the engine, which is found behind the driver’s left shoulder. The boot is comically small and it gets incredibly hot because it’s positioned right above the gearbox. These things are straight from the Lamborghini recipe book, but they’ve been cooked by Honda. Which is why the interior feels a little too cheap and familiar, with the navigation system and the indicators nicked straight from a Civic hatchback. A dash of carbon fibre and leather won’t fool anyone.
But that doesn’t really matter, because the NSX is simply designed to do one thing: go fast. Put your foot down at the lights and you’ll pass 60mph in less than three seconds. Flat out, you’ll be doing 191mph. Those numbers sound impressive enough on paper, but they’re mere shapes on a page. From the driving seat, they feel raw and animalistic. The four motors shove you in the kidneys and the speedometer becomes a blur. The engine howls, the electric motors whistle and suddenly you’re doing outrageous speeds. Your internal organs won’t catch up for a little while yet.
But there’s more to the NSX than straight-line performance. Honda is still involved in Formula 1, and its hybrid supercar was developed using some serious engineering know-how. With carbon-fibre this and composite that, it feels incredibly agile. The super-light steering elicits an instant response from the front wheels and then the nose of the car.
And the grip on offer is staggering. You can get the back end to misbehave if you’re feeling very brave (or stupid), but the front will go exactly where you put it without one iota of disobedience. It’s one of those cars that’s frisky enough to demand your attention – it doesn’t suffer fools gladly – but you really have to push hard before it bites back. Keen drivers will find it immensely rewarding.
But for all that, the NSX is still a very easy car to drive at normal speeds. Visibility is so-so, partly because the sunlight catches the shiny engine cover under the rear window and blinds you, and partly because all you can see in the door mirrors are the car’s own air intakes, but the gearbox is good and the power delivery is smooth. Driving a Ferrari in traffic can be a miserable, clunky experience, but the NSX is fine. As long as you don’t encounter any savage speed bumps, it’s as relaxing as driving any other Honda.
And it’s just as economical. I managed about 30mpg in my time with the NSX and achieving such figures in a bona fide supercar is unheard of. It’s like bridging political divides using that horrendous Baby Shark song. It just shouldn’t be possible.
So, forget the badge on the front; this is the complete supercar. It has unquestionably earned its place among the best in the world. It’s fast enough and frisky enough to demand every last ounce of your attention, and that’s just how it should be. Yet it’s still easy to drive and easy to live with. At least by supercar standards.
The idea of spending almost £200,000 on a Honda would have been laughable just a few years ago. But the new NSX suddenly changed the rules. This is worth every single penny.
But unless you love cars to distraction, that paragraph won’t make a jot of difference. You’ll still buy a Ferrari or a Lamborghini or an Aston Martin, and you’ll be very happy with it. That’s fair enough, because those companies make some great supercars. But for my money, they don’t make the best supercars. That accolade goes to Honda.
Honda NSX
Price from: £189,950
Top speed: 191mph
Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic
0-62mph: under three seconds
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 with three electric motors
Power: 572bhp
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