Media

First customer Rick Hendrick takes delivery of VIN 001 with proceeds from his $1.2 million winning bid going to two children’s charities
May 24, 2016 - MARYSVILLE, Ohio
Acura today celebrated the highly anticipated line-off of the first serial production 2017 Acura NSX at the new Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio. The PMC is the exclusive manufacturing home to Acura's next-generation NSX, the only supercar made in America.
"Today marks the realization of a big dream here at the PMC and the culmination of more than 30 years of manufacturing experience and expertise here in Ohio," said Clement D'Souza, engineering large project leader for the Acura NSX. "Our world class team of expert technicians, through their passion, has realized major innovations in the design and manufacturing of a next-generation Acura supercar that truly delivers incredible precision crafted performance."
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 Pediatric 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 fiber 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."
"Taking delivery of this first new Acura supercar and knowing the proceeds will benefit two remarkable organizations for children makes this a very special moment for me and everyone on our team," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. "It's especially rewarding to see this incredible supercar coming to life in the United States, which is a real testament to the company's commitment to innovation and manufacturing here."
The PMC was designed to blend human craftsmanship and advanced technologies to assure superior build quality and precision crafted performance. 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 aluminum-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. Each NSX engine is machine balanced, bench tested and broken-in to the equivalent of 150 miles of service to ensure that every NSX engine is track-ready upon customer delivery. The engine is installed at the PMC, along with its revolutionary front-mounted Twin Motor Unit, which enables electrically powered torque vectoring, a world's first capability in the sports car realm.
Development of the Acura NSX involved a global R&D team led by engineers at the Ohio Center 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.
About the Acura NSX
Created to bring a new experience to the supercar segment, the next-generation Acura NSX challenges conventional beliefs about supercars, with cutting-edge and world-first technologies. Much as the first generation NSX did a quarter century ago, the 2017 NSX breaks the mold through a first-of-its-kind Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive power unit, a multimaterial body structure, advanced aerodynamics and a cockpit that supports performance driving on every level without sacrificing comfort. The 2017 Acura NSX is the only supercar designed, developed and manufactured in the U.S. and is produced exclusively at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio using domestic and globally sourced parts. The NSX engine is manufactured at the Anna, Ohio engine plant, also using domestic and globally sourced parts.
About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, an original approach to technology and design that creates a new driving experience. On March 27, 2016, Acura celebrated the 30th anniversary of its launch as the first luxury nameplate from a Japanese automaker.
The Acura lineup features five distinctive models – the RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America's all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV. Joining the lineup is the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar which is a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.