Published on May 25th, 2016 | by Daniel Sherman Fernandez
0First Serial Production 2017 Acura NSX Rolls off the Line
Just a few days ago Acura celebrated the line-off of the first serial production 2017 Acura NSX at the new Performance Manufacturing Centre (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio. The PMC is the exclusive manufacturing home to Acura’s next-generation NSX, the only supercar made in America.
The first customer, Rick Hendrick, earned the right to custom order the first production NSX with a winning bid of $1.2 million at the Barrett-Jackson auction in January. All proceeds from the sale went to the Paediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground. Hendrick drove his Valencia Red Pearl Acura NSX off the line. VIN 001 features exclusive interwoven wheels, carbon ceramic brake rotors, leather and Alcantara interior trim and carbon fibre upgrades including the engine cover, roof, and rear decklid spoiler.
“The NSX is a pure expression of the Precision Crafted Performance DNA and challenging spirit that defines the Acura brand,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of Acura. “We can’t wait to give our clients a chance to experience this dream product, and will carry this day’s momentum forward as we continue to invest in and grow Acura.”
The PMC is home to master technicians who developed 12 patent-pending technologies and other advanced methods of producing a made-to-order supercar. PMC associates created sophisticated new manufacturing methods around the unique capabilities and specifications of Acura’s next-generation NSX.
Innovations to the NSX construction, painting, assembly and quality confirmation process include fully robotic MIG welding of the aluminium-intensive space frame, 14 hours of meticulous hand assembly by 16 highly skilled manufacturing technicians, and a dynamic performance testing and confirmation process drawn from the company’s extensive race experience.
In nearby Anna, Ohio, at the company’s largest engine plant, master builders hand assemble the NSX’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, which is then mated to its advanced 9-speed dual clutch transmission and rear direct drive electric motor.
Development of the Acura NSX involved a global R&D team led by engineers at the Ohio Centre of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, Ohio, roughly a mile from the PMC. The final design was created at the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, Calif., based on an original concept from the Wako Studio in Japan.