THE STRONG SILENT TYPE
Honda’s supercar hybrid is a thing of quiet beauty. But shhhh.. don’t tell Mrs Clooney
Stealth was what the man from Honda called the “Quiet” mode in the firm’s fabulous new NSX Supercar.
There is Sport, Sport+ and Track but the quiet mode means this 573bhp piece of dynamite will propel itself forward in full electric and totally silent mode – as this long- awaited and much-anticipated flagship car from Honda is a hybrid.
It is not, like many hybrids, a fuelefficient fiend with bargain-basement emissions. Oh no. The electric motors in this car – and there are three of them – are there for one purpose only: to maximise the thrill, the drive and the all- consuming experience of driving a car at the top of its game.
“When do you think you might need the quiet mode?” I asked the man from Honda, because one of this car’s great selling points is the fabulous sound it emits, particularly in Sport+ mode.
It growls at you as it moves up and down the gears – the sound of a truly magnificent car at full throttle.
“Well, perhaps when you’re leaving someone’s house in the wee small hours and you don’t want to disturb the neighbours,” he suggested. I looked at him. “Actually,” he confided, “some people call this the adulterer’s car because it has great pulling power but can move away silently when it needs to.”
I raised an eyebrow. So there you have it, ladies, the car of your dreams for the day you snare George Clooney and don’t want his other half to know.
The NSX is a stunning car with a price tag of £143,950. Is George worth it? When I raise another eyebrow at the price, I am patiently reminded this motor is pitted against supercars almost three times more expensive.
It is bespoke too. Only eight are made each day at the factory in Marysville, Ohio, and no two are identical . Most customers add £15,000 to £18,000 options.
It is a beautiful car, sitting low on the ground for maximum stability. Lines sweep aerodynamically back towards the rear spoiler and the version I was driving was fitted with stunning carbon detailing.
The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine sits just behind the seats and you can see it through the glass fastback. It has an electric motor specifically alongside to counter any delay in the turbo.
Twin electric motors drive the front wheels, making this an all-wheel-drive car with instant power that gets you from 0 - 60 in less than three seconds if you have to make a quick getaway.
If you decide to take your NSX trackside, it will provide you with Launch Control, giving you instant power from the electric motors followed almost immediately by a massive dump of 500bhp.
Inside, the NSX continues to impress with one of the most comfortable sports driving seats I’ve ever sat in. My version had twotone red leather and a flat topped and bottomed sports steering wheel.
Buttons take you through the gears and driving modes are easily accessed via a dial on the centre console.
To drive, the NSX is a dream. What you remember most after a day of driving this car is the amazing feeling of power gushing through it, fun at how it responds so perfectly to you and delight at the sheer beauty, both in its design and engineering.
Honda are not making many of these cars. There are only three in the UK and the plan is for 60 next year and 40 the year after. They are going to be very special indeed.