Auctions: eBay Find of the Day: Ayrton Senna’s 1993 Honda NSX

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Europe, Acura, Honda, Celebrities

1993 Acura NSX reportedly formerly owned by Ayrton Senna, is up for auction on eBay.

It’s not often that things owned by the late Ayrton Senna come up for sale, but the seller of this black-on-black 1993 Honda NSX (aka, Acura NSX) eBay find claims it was once owned by the Formula One legend, and that he left a footprint on the factory carpet that can still be seen today. (Footprint, or vacuum lines?…)

NSX no. T000999 was given to Senna as a gift from his mentor and sponsor, Antonio de Almeida Braga, the seller claims, and it was stored at a palace near the Estoril F1 circuit in Portugal. He also was known to drive two other NSXs, a black one and a red one – the latter in which he was seen often.

The seller claims to have owned T000999, which is still in Portugal, for 17 years, and the 31,000-mile odometer indicates it was driven about 1,500 miles per year on average. Thankfully the car has been kept stock, so whoever buys it can enjoy driving it just as Senna did – that is, if the car actually is what it’s claimed to be. If the story checks out, then this is one valuable NSX, which is reflected in the high minimum starting bid of 47,500 pounds ($73,620). There have been no bids at time of writing, but with nine days left in the auction, we’ll be keeping our eyes on this one.

Senna is credited with improving the development of the mid-engine Honda when he told engineers after a test drive that the car needed to be more rigid. After eight months more chassis development, the car was stiffer and the suspension was finely tuned to Senna’s satisfaction. The rest is history, as Honda stunned the world – and a few supercar manufacturers – soon after when it released the excellent NSX in 1990.

eBay Find of the Day: Ayrton Senna’s 1993 Honda NSX originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Powerball winner’s first purchase will be used Acura NSX off Craigslist

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Acura

Video of Powerball winner Paul White

We don’t play the lottery very often, but when we do, even a five-dollar win is cause for celebration. So we can’t possibly imagine how Paul White from Minnesota is feeling after scoring a third of this week’s $448 million Powerball jackpot. It has to be an overwhelming experience, but we think he’s going to end up handling it well if his first press conference is any indication.

Like some of us, White has a pretty reasonable idea of what his first purchase is, and boy, is it a good one: an early Acura NSX. Yes, this man has class. Rather than run out and buy a clichéd Rolls-Royce or Lamborghini, his first instinct is to go pick up a $30,000 Acura that he has been eyeing on Craigslist for months. It’s enough to make us wonder if he’ll use his winnings to get on the list for one of Acura’s new NSXs when they finally come around in 2015.

Watch White describe what it is about the NSX that makes heart skip a beat in the press conference video from USA Today below (note: video autoplays).

Continue reading Powerball winner’s first purchase will be used Acura NSX off Craigslist

Powerball winner’s first purchase will be used Acura NSX off Craigslist originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Snapshots from Acura NSX prototype run at Mid-Ohio

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Acura, Racing

Acura NSX Prototype lapping Mid-Ohio ahead of the Honda Indy 200.

Acura’s achingly slow showing of the new, hybrid NSX saw yet another step yesterday, as we reported late last week. A powder-blue prototype ran ahead of the open-wheelers at the Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Why show the NSX Prototype at Mid-Ohio? Honda’s Ohio research and development center, which has taken the lead on NSX development, is just 60 miles from the track. And as race sponsor, Honda must have figured it would give the spectators a glimpse of the new supercar it’s been teasing for the better part of a decade.

With a planned launch in 2015 (special emphasis on the “planned” part, considering the NSX’s history), the NSX Prototype shown here sports graphics that “speak to Acura’s intention to go racing with the new NSX.” That’s great news for fans of endurance racing, although it remains to be seen when a motorsports program for the new NSX will get off the ground.

Take a look at the fresh gallery of images, and be sure to head over to our original Mid-Ohio post for the video footage of the NSX Prototype on track.

Continue reading Snapshots from Acura NSX prototype run at Mid-Ohio

Snapshots from Acura NSX prototype run at Mid-Ohio originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch an Acura NSX prototype lap the track at Mid-Ohio

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Videos, Acura

Acura NSX prototype at Mid-Ohio

As promised, Acura trotted its NSX prototype out to the mass of waiting fans ahead of today’s Honda Indy 200 IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio. The hybrid supercar took to the track for a fast lap, and Acura was kind enough to attach a score of cameras to the car in order to share the event with the rest of the world.

The blue-wrapped NSX looks pretty darn good on a race track, if we do say so ourselves, and its V6 engine, coupled with its three electric motors and lithium-ion battery pack, sounds awfully sweet at full song. The automaker is promising to release its new NSX in 2015, which is still quite a ways away, so we don’t expect this exhibition lap to be the last time we see a prototype in action ahead of a production debut.

Want to see the video? Of course you do. Scroll down to see the NSX take to the track like a fish takes to water.

Continue reading Watch an Acura NSX prototype lap the track at Mid-Ohio

Watch an Acura NSX prototype lap the track at Mid-Ohio originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Acura releases yet another NSX track teaser vid

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Acura

On Sunday, August 4th (yep, that’s tomorrow), a prototype version of the all-new Acura NSX will make its public track debut ahead of the Honda 200 IndyCar race. Acura has already given us a short video snippet to enjoy, but now it’s added one more to get our hearts racing just a little more.

Before you watch it, make sure your speakers or headphones are turned up, because what the low-resolution video lacks in visual quality, it more than makes up for with its audio of the NSX’s exhaust screaming as the car tackles Mid-Ohio. And at the end of the video, the caption reads “watch the NSX racing prototype take a lap.”

Acura isn’t joking either. From what we hear, the car is expected to take one lap before the race and then disappear for the weekend. Scroll down to see and hear the NSX in action.

Continue reading Acura releases yet another NSX track teaser vid

Acura releases yet another NSX track teaser vid originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Aug 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Acura teases 17 seconds of the NSX on Vine and Instagram

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Acura, Luxury

Acura won’t roll out the prototype NSX until August 4 when it shows up at Mid-Ohio Raceway for the Honda 200 IndyCar race, and the genuine production car isn’t scheduled to arrive until 2015. Acura will, though, make the car a Vine and Instagram video star with snippets of the mid-engined roarer lapping the test track in both the dry and the wet.

After unleashing a six-second loop on Twitter’s video service yesterday, it gave fans a bit more by uploading a nine-second clip on Instagram of the coupe throwing up rooster tails and sliding around bends. Best of all is the sound – it’s like no Acura you’ve ever heard outside of a race track. You can check out both videos below.

Continue reading Acura teases 17 seconds of the NSX on Vine and Instagram

Acura teases 17 seconds of the NSX on Vine and Instagram originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Acura to roll out NSX Prototype for Mid-Ohio IndyCar race

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Performance, Acura

Acura NSX prototype lapping Mid Ohio

Acura will tease us yet again with its next-gen NSX when it makes an appearance at Mid-Ohio Raceway before the circuit’s IndyCar race early next month. To be fair, the car’s in-motion debut won’t take the form of a production model – that’s still a ways off – the vehicle will be a prototype. It’ll be sporting custom graphics and an eye-catching paint (wrap?) job to draw the attention of the spectators, but really, we just want to hear this thing rounding the legendary road course at full chat.

The NSX prototype doesn’t look to be much different from the various showcars we’ve seen over the last couple of years, with the same mid-engined, hybrid V6 power and all-wheel drive all present and accounted for.

The display will take place before the Honda Indy 200 IndyCar Series on August 4. The race itself starts at 3:00 pm and will be shown on NBC Sports Network.

Continue reading Acura to roll out NSX Prototype for Mid-Ohio IndyCar race

Acura to roll out NSX Prototype for Mid-Ohio IndyCar race originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #216: Superbowl ads, Kubica crash and Honda NSX with Dave Kiley

Filed under: Motorsports, Podcasts, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Rumormill

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Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #216 is a retrospective of Superbowl Ads, rumination on the Kubica crash (yes, we know we mispronounced his name) and rumors of restarted effort on Honda’s new supercar, picking up where the NSX left off. Chris and Dan are joined by Chris Paukert and AOL Autos/Autoblog contributor David Kiley for the hour and nineteen minute extravaganza. We wrap with your questions and comments, as always, and we’ll see you next week. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #216: Superbowl ads, Kubica crash and Honda NSX with Dave Kiley

  • Superbowl Car Commercials
  • Kubica Crash
  • NSX Development Restarted

In the Autoblog Garage:


2011 Honda Accord Special Edition
2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2011 Toyota Camry

  • Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:19:05


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Autoblog Podcast #216: Superbowl ads, Kubica crash and Honda NSX with Dave Kiley originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda confirms NSX development has restarted

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Honda, Rumormill, Luxury

Honda HSV-010

Honda HSV-010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Heads up, Hondaphiles – it looks like the NSX has been dug out of storage and plopped back on the table as a candidate for production. Company president Takashi Ito has announced that he’s jump-starting development on the supercar. As you may recall, the beast was unceremoniously put to bed after the global economy gutted itself back in 2008. At the time, the project sailed under the HSV-010 moniker, and Honda even went so far as to campaign a version of the machine in the Japanese Super GT series.

Since then, the supercar segment has all but exploded with new metal. Mercedes-Benz jumped into the action with its SLS AMG, Lexus came to the party with the high-tech LFA and old-timers like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Nissan GT-R have been enjoying their own slice of supercar territory. We’re all for the notion of a resurrected Honda fighter, but we’re still going to treat this one with a healthy dose of skepticism.

We’ve been burnt before.

Gallery: Honda HSV-10 GT

[Source: Japanese Nostalgic Car]

Report: Honda confirms NSX development has restarted originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Acura NSX built on flip-flopped Honda Accord chassis?

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Acura, Honda, Rumormill

Acura Advanced Sports Car concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Peter Lyon, Motor Trend’s correspondent abroad, Honda is still hard at work on a successor to the much-loved NSX sports car. If true, we can expect the halo car to be powered again by a six-cylinder engine, this time augmented by a hybrid powertrain.

Up to this point, we’re willing to put on our tinfoil NSX fanboy hats to suspend our fleeting grip on reality in hopes of a return to Honda-spec supercardom. However, not even Mulder himself could sell us on what Lyon is suggesting. According to MT’s man in Japan, Honda is planning to use a flip-flopped Accord platform as the basis for its super coupe. You read that right.

While we’d love to see a 400-horsepower, all-wheel-drive NSX hit the market in 2014, we’re not holding our collective breath… especially for one based on a backwards Accord chassis.

Gallery: Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

Next Acura NSX built on flip-flopped Honda Accord chassis? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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