Long known as the home of buckeyes, cornfields, and Amish communities, central Ohio soon will be home to something a little more exciting for car aficionados: the Acura NSX. In an announcement made today, Honda confirmed the NSX will be produced at a $70-million production facility to be housed inside Honda’s former North American logistics facility. Located only a few miles from both Honda of America’s R&D center and Honda Engineering North America’s center for the development of new production technologies, the 184,000-square-foot facility will be the maker’s third plant in the state. Honda says the new production facility will employ approximately 100 highly skilled employees, culled from existing Honda operations in the state, and the NSX’s powertrain will be assembled at Honda’s engine plant in Anna, Ohio.
Hidenobu Iwata, CEO of Honda of America and the head of Honda’s manufacturing operations in North America, said the facility’s location and the decision to produce the NSX in mid-Ohio makes perfect sense, as it will be located “in the midst of one of the greatest collections of engineering and production talent in the world.” Considering that Honda’s Takanezawa Plant in Japan, where the original NSX was produced, was the first manufacturing facility in the world to mass-produce an all-aluminum body, Iwata’s statement carries some serious weight.
Honda reconfirmed the NSX will be powered by a mid-mounted V-6 engine mated to Acura’s innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system. Ted Klaus, head of NSX development, said that the brand’s sports car must offer an emotional experience. “After you drive it, lay your head on the pillow, and it stays with you,” he said. Acura’s emotional benchmark is the Ferrari 458 Italia, while performance benchmarks include the McLaren MP4-12C, the Audi R8, and the Porsche 911. While Acura may not have the reputation of its competitive set, it’s targeting shoppers who “might not be able to afford” those models. We understand that the NSX, which stands for new sports experience, is still two years away from hitting dealer lots.
