Used 2019 Acura NSX

The 2019 Acura NSX is a sleek supercar built in the U.S.A. by one of Japan’s most prestigious car companies. A powerful performer, the 2019 NSX combines the desirable balance of a mid-engine sports car with a 573-horsepower hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive to produce a light, agile machine. Capable of dashing to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds and with a top speed just over 190 mph, the NSX has the muscle and moves to challenge legendary names like the Lamborghini Huracan and Ferrari 488, yet its sub-$160,000 price tag severely undercuts these rivals, placing it on the same playing field as the slower BMW i8 and muscular Audi R8 V10.

It isn’t the speed of the 2019 Acura NSX that impresses. Oh, sure, it’s quick. Let it eat and the SH-AWD system does its thing, all four massive Continentals claw at the asphalt and you’re past 60 mph in about three seconds, your head pinned to the seat as the supercar’s 9-speed dual-clutch automatic snatches another gear and then another. Hold your foot down and it’ll crest 190 mph. And man, can it corner, thanks to Active Torque Vectoring that independently applies power or braking forces to each front wheel to further enhance grip. And the Acura’s excellent mechanical/regenerative braking system feels great and is extremely positive. But the best part, the part that blows our minds is the civility and the comfort. The NSX is a pussycat in traffic and in the tight confines of the city. You can control these multiple personalities with four driver-selectable settings: Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track. Each tunes the steering, brakes, throttle response, Vehicle Stability Assist, magnetorheological dampers and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD while tweaking the level of exhaust roar both inside the car and out.

Acura’s designers have managed to create a warm and welcoming cabin with a modern, high-tech vibe. There’s nothing retro about it; still, the shapes and overall design offer a connection to the interior of the original Acura NSX, which was introduced in 1991. Visibility is excellent for a mid-engine sports car and the interior is well-finished. Deeply bolstered bucket seats trimmed in perforated Milano leather and Alcantara provide an excellent combination of comfort and support without feeling confining and are complemented by extra padding on the door panels and center console. The flat-bottom steering wheel is a cool touch. The 7.0-inch infotainment touch screen is well placed but seems a bit pedestrian at this price point.

The 2019 Acura NSX has a look that is exotic without going overboard. From its low, wide stance to its new gloss-black trim and body-colored grille garnish, the look is tasteful yet still purposefully sinister. The design may seem purely artistic, but there’s actually a science behind the curving lines and flared wheel arches. The steel-and-aluminum body allows airflow to help with high-speed stability, while those numerous radiators and cooling devices cleverly incorporated into the design help keep the Sport Hybrid components cool during all driving conditions. A vibrant new Thermal Orange Pearl paint option this year ups the NSX’s already formidable attitude.

CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES
When it comes to stopping power, nothing beats a good set of carbon-ceramic brakes. Unfortunately, these high-tech, heat-resistant, track-ready brakes don’t come cheap, adding a cool $9,900 to the NSX’s bottom line and another grand on top of that if you want the black calipers painted silver, red or orange.

ELS STUDIO AUDIO
Now standard on every 2019 Acura NSX, the excellent ELS audio system delivers brilliant reproduction through nine speakers powered by a 580-watt amp. The 5.1 DTS Neural Sound surround enhances the experience, with pounding bass and clear mid-range pulse.

While focused on delivering high-energy exhilaration, the 2019 Acura NSX boasts features that make it equally attractive as a daily driver. Standard leather and Alcantara 4-way-power seats can be replaced with manual units in the interest of saving weight. Also standard is the ELS audio system, navigation, dual-zone climate control, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay apps, Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth phone/streaming audio, proximity sensors, keyless smart-entry/smart-start, Active Sound Control and more, including a modestly scaled but fully insulated and surprisingly usable 4.4-cubic-foot trunk that can hold a golf bag. The NSX wears staggered-size forged alloy wheels wrapped in 245/35ZR19 performance rubber up front and 305/30ZR20 boots in the rear.

Built to each individual customer’s order, the new 2019 Acura NSX offers a sizable selection of extras that can impart unique character to this ultimate Acura as well as enhance its overall performance. Optional seat packages add heated buckets with full red leather, and while a head-up display remains on the wish list, owners can opt for a selection of mass-reducing interior/exterior carbon-fiber bits. Other options include custom wheels, Pirelli tires, Ultra-Premium Andoro exterior paint finishes, a carbon-fiber roof and carbon-ceramic brakes that help chop 52 pounds off the NSX’s unsprung weight.

The 2019 Acura NSX supercar is powered by a unique hybrid system composed of a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 and three integrated electric motors. Collectively, the quad pairing produces an impressive 573 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the V6 engine’s dry-sump lubrication and direct plus-port fuel injection, engine placement is low in the chassis helping improve optimal balance. Fitted between the V6 and the 9-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is a Direct Drive Motor that quickens acceleration, aided by a Twin Motor Unit at the front axle that also assists with steering and braking via Acura’s torque-vectoring system. An added advantage of the electric motors is their ability to eliminate any turbo lag experienced by the gasoline part of the powertrain.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 plus 3 electric motors
573 horsepower (combined)
476 lb-ft of torque (combined)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/22 mpg