Acura NSX Production Pushed Back To Spring 2016, Likely To Launch As A 2017 Model

What’s another half year when you’ve waited ten years for an all-new Acura NSX?

Honda’s supercar has had one of the longest transition periods from concept car(s) to production we’ve ever seen and, to top it off, the automaker said the production will begin in spring 2016 instead of fall 2015 as initially planned.

When the Acura NSX debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January, Honda said it would begin taking orders this summer, with deliveries starting later in 2015. Obviously, these dates no longer stand and the new hybrid supercar is likely to launch as a 2017 model – although Honda hasn’t announced an official on-sale date yet.

The main reason for the delay is the change in engine layout that happened midway through the NSX’s development process. Originally, Honda wanted a naturally aspirated V6 engine, but engineers decided the unit needed turbochargers. This meant building a bespoke V6 engine and switching to a longitudinal configuration, which obviously slowed the engineering process.

When the NSX finally starts rolling off the assembly line in Marysville, Ohio in spring 2016, four years would have passed since the first NSX study debuted at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. That’s an extremely long transition from concept car to production.

So when will the Acura NSX reach US dealerships? There’s no date for the moment, but Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president and general manager, told Automobile that the company will decide that during a summit with dealers scheduled for October. At the meeting, Honda will also decide the NSX’s pre- and at-launch marketing strategy.

The 2017 Acura NSX is expected to cost around $150,000. The automaker hasn’t released performance specs yet, but the twin-turbo V6 and the three electric motors are estimated to deliver a total of 550hp. The engine will be paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels.