Supercars are fascinating for a handful of reasons. Their body kits must be both appealing and highly-functional to fulfill tasks that relate to aerodynamics and cooling, while their engines must deliver the best available levels of performance. These aspects, joined by the use of fancy materials and whatnot, make a supercar’s price skyrocket.

However, it’s also the attention to detail that matters in a supercar. Take the Acura NSX’s V-6, for example. Like the powerplants found inside most of its peers, it's hand-built. The whole process takes place inside a specialized facility spanning over 4,000 square feet, part of the Anna Engine Plant in Ohio.

It’s Not Just a V-6, You Know…

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For starters, it’s created exclusively for the NSX. Of course, Acura/Honda needed 12 years to revive the NSX nameplate, so it could not afford any loose ends or untied knots. That’s why the engine gets a bucketload of attention and it’s built to deliver max performance for as long as possible.

And since we’ve mentioned the powerplant so many times, it’s only right to look at the specs, too.

So, the twin-turbo 3.5-liter, 75-degree, dry-sump DOHC V-6 makes 500 horsepower (the NSX makes do with a total of 573 horsepower) and 406 pound-feet of torque. It’s also mounted longitudinally in such a way that its highest point doesn’t go beyond the top of the rear tires.

2020 Acura NSX specifications

Engine Type

Twin-Turbo Aluminum-Alloy 75-Degree V-6

Displacement (liters)

3.5

Layout

Mid-mounted Longitudinal

Bore and Stroke (in )

3.6 x 3.5 (91 x 89.5)

Power (hp @ rpm)

500 @ 6500-7500

Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)

406 @ 2000-6000

Specific Output (hp/liter)

143

Maximum Speed

191 mph

Acceleration (0-60 mph)

2.9 secs (estimated)


Electric components aside, the engine itself is tuned for lightning-fast throttle response. In this regard, Acura looked a lot at the world of racing when developing the dry-sump system. Even oil is precisely delivered inside the V-6, regardless of temperature and track conditions.

To put things into perspective, one master builder does, more or less, what 150 people do on Acura’s standard engine assembly lines. Let that sink in for a bit.

Oh, and Acura will do the engine break-in for you at the Anna plant, so when you take the NSX out of the dealer’s parking lot, it’s ready for a launch-control off-the-line start.

For more amazing details like that one simply click play on the video below.