Acura NSX: 0-60 & Quarter Mile Times

What Are The 0-60 MPH and Quarter Mile Times?

The NSX has continued to shave seconds off its track times as the years have come and gone. Ferrari’s massive V8 output initially inspired the vehicle in the 80s, as Honda recognized the need to compete with the release of the Nissan 300ZX.

The NSX (New Sportscar Experimental) was the result. The car has had two different generations (1990 - 2005, and then revived in 2016 - 2022 as a Hybrid 3.5 V6). There isn’t much variance between the model years for these 0 - 60 times during the original series, but the table below illustrates that ten years can make a big difference. Track times were significantly improved when the car was reintroduced in 2016.

What are the 0 - 60 mph / Quarter Mile Stats of Competitors?

The 2022 Acura NSX has a very stout time for a hybrid vehicle, clocking times equal to or better than many competitors with turbo-charged ICE motors.

How Are 0- 60 mph Times Calculated?

While it is impossible to account for every variable, testers try to do so. Many different publications, from Car and Driver to accelerationtimes.com to Motor Trend, have different testing parameters so that the time results may vary from testing site to testing site.

In the old days, a group of guys with stopwatches recorded their 0 to 60 mph runs many times in a row and then averaged the results. But no more. Instead, calculating speeds and times is a much more complicated process. What exactly is involved in determining real-life 0 to 60 times, and why doesn’t your car achieve them?

The Averages are from Several Runs.

The tests you read on a website or magazine are the average from several different runs on a specially designed track built to exact specifications. You won’t ever have the luxury of running your car down a quarter-mile section multiple times. While you might be able to take off from a red light, the local law enforcement won’t understand that you were just testing your 0 - 60 time to see if it matched what you’d read online. Imagine their delight when you explain that you need to go back and redo the run five more times just to get a good average).

The Guy with the Stopwatch is a Computer with GPS.

Nowadays, testing agencies use more computers and fewer human observations to list the times as accurately as possible. The testing has become a technological marvel with GPS and Racelogic Vbox to record distances and accelerations. There are complicated algorithms to account for weather, road conditions, altitude, and other external factors. Basically, the engineers plug in all these random batches of data, let the computer crunch the numbers, and then spit out the results. (Again, the average owner will not be in a situation where they have access to all the equipment being used today).

The Rollout Can Make a Difference

Not every magazine or testing facility uses the same parameters. As Car and Driver, some have begun using a rolling start, called the rollout, to allow the car to move forward before the clock begins. The cars on a drag strip roll forward slightly as they thrust off the start line. The result is a couple of fractions of a second off the run time. An average driver will likely never encounter a situation where he would use a “roll-out” before thrusting down on the accelerator.

Are There Factors that Affect 0-60 mph Ratings?

Several factors can affect 0-60 times for any car, not just an Acura NSX. Let’s look at a few of them.

Coefficient of Drag,

A lot of attention is placed on the vehicle's design to minimize the amount of wind resistance a car has when it travels down the roadway. The 2022 NSX has a coefficient of drag of .32, which is about average for an Acura.

Weight Matters

Just like the few extra pounds you gain over the holidays slows you down, in the same way, excess weight can also affect a car’s performance. The more a car weighs, the more energy it takes to move the mass forward. (This is why the first thing automakers did to improve mpg standards was to eliminate the spare tire and rim from the trunk of many cars, instantly lightening the vehicle's weight and thereby improving the mileage). Then the hybrid revolution came, and since a hybrid requires a smaller, lighter motor to keep everything going, the car gains mpg instantly due to the lack of a heavy internal combustion engine. The physics involved also means greater speed when speed is needed.

The first-generation NSX has stayed near 3,010 lbs, while the second generation is considerably heavier at 3,700 lbs in 2016, increasing to 3,878 lbs for the 2022 model. (Over the years, Acura has offered a lightweight package designed to use ceramic brakes and various carbon fiber components to help lighten the car and increase its speed).

Where The Engine Goes Matters

The placement of the engine can affect the numbers. Place too much weight in the front, and the car has to waste energy to compensate for the lack of balance, which means less energy is available to thrust that weight forward. Since a hybrid motor weighs less and is positioned more toward the middle of the car, RWD vehicles like the NSX hybrid have an easier time accelerating.

Is This the Last Year for the NSX?

Unfortunately, Honda has decided to discontinue the NSX after the 2022 model year. Company officials have promised that there will be the third generation of NSX, which will likely be a sporty EV-powered car, but there is no indication of when that vehicle will be introduced to the public.