Welcome to Place Called Thermal Raceway, where Honda is launching its new supercar, the NSX. As we've been waiting for this car's arrival, it's hard not to feel that it's about time. The old NSX has been out of production for nearly a decade, and with it, the relevance of its predecessor has come into question.

So, what can we expect from Honda's new supercar? Under the hood, there's a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, with 3.5 liters of displacement, producing 500 horsepower. This is complemented by a 50-horsepower electric motor, which drives the car at the back. The latter helps to alleviate turbo lag at low revs, giving the car a more even and refined driving experience.

The electric motors also play a role in changing the inherent balance of the car. With modes such as quiet mode, sport mode, and track mode, drivers can adjust their driving style to suit different conditions. For instance, quiet mode prioritizes the electric motors, ensuring a smooth ride, while sport mode brings out the full potential of the V6 engine.

Furthermore, the NSX features a speed dual-clutch transmission, which is quite lovely to experience. Given its combined output of 570 horsepower and a weight of 1725 kilos, the NSX may seem like a formidable opponent on paper. However, Honda emphasizes that the car's true potential lies not in its raw numbers but in its handling and performance.

In practice, the NSX does not feel as heavy as it appears to weigh. With a balanced chassis and responsive steering, the car feels agile and responsive. Of course, it doesn't match the directness of a Ferrari 488, but it has a unique balance that sets it apart from other supercars.

During our test drive in track mode, we pushed the NSX to its limits, with all the settings optimized for performance. The result was impressive, with the car reaching high speeds and responding eagerly to driver input. Carbon-ceramic brakes also play their part, providing exceptional stopping power and control.

It's worth noting that Honda has deliberately designed the NSX as a road car, first and foremost. While it may not have the same level of performance as a Lamborghini or Audi R8 V10, it is more than capable of handling the track when needed. The sound of the engine is particularly noteworthy, with a low center of gravity and a longitudinally mounted V6 that provides a smooth and refined driving experience.

In terms of materials, Honda has opted for a mix of aluminum, steel, plastic, and carbon fiber 2. While this may seem like an eclectic combination, it ultimately contributes to the car's intelligence and practicality. With less emphasis on electronic gubbins and motors, the NSX would be significantly lighter and more agile.

The NSX is certainly exciting, but its appeal lies in its unique blend of character and usability. It's not as flashy or outrageous as some other supercars, but it has a distinct quality that makes it appealing to those who value practicality alongside performance. With prices starting at £130,000, the NSX offers an affordable entry point into the world of supercars, without sacrificing too much in terms of driveability.

To truly understand what the NSX represents today as the "everyday" supercar, we need to compare it with other contenders like the McLaren 570S and 570 GT. Only by putting these cars through their paces can we determine which one stands out as the ultimate choice for those seeking a balance of everyday usability and track performance.

Honda has certainly succeeded in creating an NSX that embodies its vision for this modern supercar. It's easy to see why Honda chose to launch this car in California, where most owners will likely reside. The target audience for the NSX seems to be drivers who prioritize comfort, practicality, and handling above outright performance.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwelcome to place called thermal Raceway which is in California and which is where the Honda NSX is being launched cuz it's built in the states so what is it well we've been waiting a long time haven't we really it is Honda's new £130,000 superc car replaces the old NSX of a fashion but I mean it's been out of production for so long nearly a decade that you know that car wasn't totally relevant anymore so we have a twin turber charged V6 behind us 3 and 1/2 L making 500 brake then there is a 50 horsepower electric motor also driving at the back now that takes some of the sort of Turbo lag away at low revs Pond would like to give a sort of supercharged feel to this car so it has a bit of a torque feel at low revs and then there's an electric motor at each front wheel which is interesting because it changes the inherent balance of this car there are a few modes you got quiet mode in which case it'll drive the electric motors quite a lot there's a sport mode in which it's pretty normal for for Road use there's a Sport Plus mode which starts to firm up the dampers and the steering and then there's a track mode which does all that a more and puts all the power Trin into it sort of angriest angriest settings it's got a --speed dual clutch transmission which is rather lovely actually and all of this ends up in a car that weigh 1725 kilos has comined output of sort of 570 horsepower which if you look at the raw numbers is there or there about 130 G but Honda says don't look at the raw numbers look at what this car can do yes it weighs 1725 kilos on paper but it does not feel it on the track not in the same way it doesn't have really super direct sharp steering like a 488 Ferrari but it does have a nice balance to it redster 7 and a half runs into the limiter and we're in track mode with everything off so it we'll run into the limiter these ones are on carbon ceramic brakes you know what there is a very nice balance to it it's actually fairly compliant in the superc car standards it's quite compliant there is a reason Honda's launched this car in California that's where most owners will buy it and some of them I think it would be fair to say are not the sort of people who would buy a Lamborghini hurricane maybe not even an Audi R8 V10 I think they want a sort of softer slightly more rounded feeli to this car I think they want it to be predominantly a road car that will behave on track when you really want it to makes a good noise doesn't it I think it's not augmented through the speakers but there is a sound tube from the engine into the cabin it's a longitudinally mounted V6 slung very low the turbos sit underneath it the exhaust is go out the back they don't go high it doesn't have sort of turbos in in the v or anything like that so it's it's got a very low center of gravity the chassis is a space frame but it's sort of mixed metal there's a lot of aluminium there's a we bit steel there's some plastic carbon fiber 2 which is actually quite an intelligent solution I don't understand manufacturers who wed themselves to a particular material because they think it's great Honda uses the right material in the right place and if there was not 150 kilos of electronic gubbins and Motors you know this would be a much lighter car than it is and would also look slightly different CU it wouldn't need 10 radiators which requires quite a lot of space at the front is it exciting yeah it is pretty exciting it's not it's not as in your face as an R8 it's not as outrageous as an ason Martin there is a round slightly soft quality to it I think it's the right price I think it's exciting enough I think it's a really daily usable sports superc car I think what would be interesting is to try it alongside a mclara 570s or 570 GT and really find out which is today's everyday superc car is kind of what the NSX was when it came out in the early '90s but it's got the whole gamut covered it's got the whole natural easygoing easy to live with car if you want slightly hooligan car if you don't I like it very much you'll like it very much you like this car it's a good car there's not a lot to dislike about it better turn actions control back on before they see me\n"