BMW Top Cars: Acura NSX-R

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Acura NSX-R

Daniel Song's 1995 Acura NSX

Honda's NSX isn't the first car that pops into your head in a super car discussion; names like Ferrari and Lamborghini are more likely to come up. But among enthusiasts, the NSX has reached legendary status, even more so after Honda discontinued its production in 2005. The NSXs light weight and refined engine and chassis has allowed it to remain competitive with more powerful and more modern cars despite the relative lack of upgrades it has received over the years. And, of course, its unmistakable shape still stands out in a sea of cars. This concept was not lost upon Daniel Song.5\6~&I;C4N
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Song stayed true to the original design language of the NSX, but sprinkled on some JGTC flair. He turned to Downforce for its extremely limited JGTC-GTR widebody kit, which is a replica of the JGTC NSXs that competed in the 1997-8 season. The kit included the front bumper with carbon strakes, front wide fenders, side skirts with carbon scoops, rear wide fenders and 3-piece diffuser. He had every piece coated in a stunning Grigio Atlas Metallic paint, the same color found on the Lamborghini Murciolago.
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In keeping with the lightweight concept, Song used carbon fiber everywhere he could. Again, Downforce provided the carbon trunk lid, replica carbon NSX-R wing and carbon rear window and rear license plate garnish. He also installed a Science of Speed carbon air duct at the rear hatch to force cool air into the engine bay and a vented carbon hood. Under the car, Song used carbon fiber for rear transmission, rear fuel cell and front battery undertrays.

To compliment the bold (and wide) exterior styling of this reborn NSX, Song fitted a set of 3-spoke Super Advan II wheels in chrome wrapped in Toyo T1R Proxy tires. The Advan wheels make no effort to obscure the massive 4-piston Brembo GT calipers and drilled brakes in the front and rear. He improved the handling and stance of the car with ARK ST-P coilovers at each corner and an NSX-R chassis and stabilizer bar.

Instead of using forced induction to add power, Song chose massage the naturally aspirated engine. Air flows freely into the engine through an ARC intake and exits through Comptech headers after combustion. Any further resistance is eliminated with Taitec test pipes and Taitec JGTC center-exit exhaust. Song used Downforce carbon products to garnish the engine cover and intake manifold. Additionally, the stock flywheel and clutch were upgraded with Exedy's chromoly flywheel and cerametallic twin-plate clutch.

The ergonomics interior of Song's NSX have been improved with a set of red Recaro Pole Position bucket seats and a Sparco Ring steering wheel, complete with a Honda horn button. As a testament to Song's attention to detail, he also sourced NSX-R floor mats and an NSX-R shift boot to match the ARC shift knob.