The Acura NSX nameplate began with the original NS-X concept that made its debut in 1989 and reached production as the 1991 Acura NSX, Acura’s first true supercar and one of the most important Japanese performance cars of its era. The name was eventually written without the hyphen, but its meaning stayed tied to the idea of a new sports car experience. The first-generation NSX was admired for combining exotic proportions and mid-engine layout with everyday usability, high build quality, and a level of refinement that helped reset expectations for what a supercar could be. It remained in production through 2005, with the car moving from the Takanezawa plant to Suzuka during its life cycle.
After a long gap, Acura revived the NSX for a second production period beginning with the 2017 model year. This modern NSX carried the same basic mission of pairing supercar performance with real-world drivability, but did so with a very different technical approach, using a hybridized all-wheel-drive powertrain and a low-volume build process in Ohio. Acura positioned the new NSX as a halo model that showcased the brand’s engineering ambitions and craftsmanship rather than a mass-market sports car.
The second-generation NSX ran through the 2022 model year, ending with the limited-production Type S. Because the nameplate returned after a clear discontinuation, the NSX should be treated as having multiple production periods rather than a single uninterrupted run. Among enthusiasts, the NSX remains significant both as the car that proved a Japanese manufacturer could build a world-class supercar and as a revival that aimed to reinterpret that legacy for the modern era.