Honda to Discontinue Production of the NSX Sports Car-Successor sports car now in development-

July 12, 2005, Japan

News Release

July 12, 2005—Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that it will discontinue production of the NSX, a vehicle that has enjoyed considerable popularity as pure sports car and won many fans worldwide. Honda is currently working on a successor, a new sports car for a new era, which is to incorporate Honda’s most advanced technology.

The NSX made its debut in 1990 as a genuine mid-engine sports car with an all-aluminum monocoque body—a world’s first for a production vehicle at the time. The NSX continued to evolve, with performance improvements including increased displacement, a 6-speed manual transmission, enhanced aerodynamic performance, and different tire sizes, along with the addition of the NSX Type-T open-top model and the NSX Type-R pure sports model with further enhanced driving performance. One of the first true sports cars to adopt clean emissions measures, the NSX succeeded in combining exhilarating driving performance with superior environmental performance. As a result, the NSX achieved total worldwide sales of more than 18,000* units during the 15 years it was in production.

Even after NSX production draws to a close, Honda will continue to foster an environment supportive of NSX owners and their enjoyment of their cars, through meticulous maintenance of NSX vehicles, a Refresh Plan to preserve vehicles in their optimum condition, and the continuing support of NSX Owners’ Meetings to assist owners who wish to enhance their driving skills.

Production of vehicles destined for the North American market will be discontinued at the end of December, 2005. Production of vehicles destined for the European market will be discontinued at the end of September, 2005.

  • *As of the end of June 2005
NSX

NSX

<Highlights of the History of the NSX>

1989 Feb. NS-X mid-engine sports car prototype introduced at the Chicago Auto Show
Oct. NS-X exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show
1990 Aug. Acura NSX went on sale in the US
Sept. NSX went on sale in Japan
1991 "Owners' Meetings", designed to enhance driving skills, inaugurated
1992 Jan. Custom order interior and body color plan introduced; its range later expanded.
Nov. Pure sports model Type-R added to the line-up
1993 Feb. Minor model change (addition of passenger-side SRS airbags, other enhanced equipment)
1993 "Refresh Plan" introduced as premium service for maturing vehicles
1994 Feb. Minor model change (16/17” aluminum wheels, reinforced brake pads)
1995 Mar. Minor model change (Drive-By-Wire electronic control, F-Matic manual-feel automatic transmission, open-top Type-T added to line-up)
1997 Feb. Minor model change (3.2-liter manual transmission model, 6-speed manual transmission, introduction of Type-S)
1999 Sept. Minor model change (reduced exhaust emissions, enhanced equipment)
2001 Dec. Minor model change (exterior design changes, 17” tires front and back)
2002 May New NSX Type-R model introduced
2003 Oct. Minor model change (Immobilizer, new body colors)