Let there be no mistake about it: the Acura NSX is an engineering tour de force – however it compares to the competition. But most of what makes it so impressive remains hidden from the eye under its sleek bodywork. That’s what makes this sketch such a marvel to behold.
Hand-drawn by “legendary automotive illustrator” Shin Yoshikawa, this cutaway sketch shows the inner workings of Honda’s hybrid supercar for all to see – and in rather splendid style, we might add.
We don’t doubt that the drawing itself necessitated a great deal of skill and painstaking effort. But to hear the manufacturer tell it, the biggest challenge might have been picking which elements to show and which to keep hidden. The NSX is that packed with technology – both mechanical and electrical. At its heart is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, backed by a trio of electric motors and mated to a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission and Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system.
“The NSX’s innovative power unit was extremely challenging to draw, making the second-generation NSX the most difficult vehicle I have sketched,” said Yoshikawa. “Everything comes down to the details. If you don’t understand the technology that goes into building vehicles, you won’t be able to build them, and you certainly can’t draw them.”
As Honda points out, the NSX is “the only supercar made in America.” The people building Corvettes in Kentucky might beg to differ, but with the Ford GT manufactured in Canada, the Dodge Viper long since discontinued, and the likes of the Hennessey Venom F5 and SSC Tuatara yet to actually enter production, the bragging rights are Acura’s for the taking – built as it is in Ohio.
