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Comparison of Supercar Honda NSX and AUDI R8

What is common between Audi R8 and Honda NSX cars?
It was worth it only to be driving and move from the place, as I immediately felt: in this car, there is some kind of sound in the cabin. It is not clear what I mean? I explain: in the aluminum capsule, the sound penetrating into the salon is not reflected as in the salon made of iron. Theoretically, everything is clear: the vibration of aluminum below, it means and acoustics inside the cabin should be different. But the theory of the theory, and when they are convinced of practice, it is always like a revelation. The same can be said about weight: Under all other equal conditions, the aluminum body for a third is easier than its Iron Assembly, and, therefore, it is initially clear that this may not affect the behavior of the car on the go. But one thing is to know, guess, and quite another to feel this difference in practice.
But the whole thing is that between Audi R8 and Honda NSX cars a whole era of 18 years old, and when you get behind the wheel and you begin to analyze your impressions, it turns out that there is a great similarity between them. Well, yes, both cars with aluminum bodies and with the same layout of MIDSHIP (the average engine location). However, there is a difference, and what else! One engine with 8 cylinders, from another from 6. And besides, they are located albeit behind, but one stands along and another across the car. Yes, and more: four-wheel drive and drive only on the rear wheels it is understandable, far from the same thing. But, nevertheless, all these significant differences cannot be sharpened by the main similarity: both body machines are completely aluminum, and it is because they seem to be almost relatives.
Of course, in the ability to quickly move the NSX car, and in the particular variety of R, you will not refuse, it is so. However, when the Audi R8 wheel is sitting behind it, the existing age difference in 18 years old makes itself felt. In other words, you absolutely begin to understand that all these years the technique did not stand in place, but moved forward and improved. The similarity is similar to, but at the Honda car, the main advantage is the ability to move quickly, while R8 is an example of a sports car of a new time, which, as it should be considered, should be not only high-speed, but also comfortable.
Material for the manufacture of body Yes, the same, aluminum. But if Honda, when developing the NSX model, sought to make a sports car in its pure form, the fact that the R8 car, when working on it, the AUDI designers, apparently, were forced to take into account new trends, the essence of which is that, they say, sports In his pure form, this is yesterday, and you will not leave the cleanliness alone. So it turns out that, although the reason for the use of aluminum and the company Honda, and the company Audi has one overflow of excess weight gained, as it seemed to me, they used each in their own way.
Feeling of genuine unity plus excitement
I think I'm not mistaken if we assume that most readers still consider the Honda NSX model a bit strange: on the one hand, a completely aluminum body, and on the other 6-cylinder engine, standing across the body in order to leave a place for the rear trunk In which you can set the bag with golf accessories.
In fact, it is nothing more than a misconception, which is explained by the fact that at that time there were many such experts who believed and wrote that, they say, Honda designers instead of consistently seek the main goal of increasing efficiency (efficiency ratio) Their cars were distracted by all sorts of secondary little things there. And what, for example, said the chief engineer of the project Mr. Woehara about the fact that the preference was given to the 6-cylinder engine? He said that otherwise could not be, because, they say, NSX is a middle class car, no more. But it was quite obvious: from the very beginning, the NSX model was planned as an analogue of German Porsche 911, and, if judged by his traction characteristic, one of the most successful.
But if it is so, if NSX is a truly sports car, it becomes clear: the engine that planned to put on the machine should not be just powerful, but also be quite compact and not too heavy. And at that time, Honda has already developed the original VTEC system (system of stepless change of phases of gas distribution), which made it possible to achieve the desired speed characteristic from just a 3-liter engine. The transverse location of the engine also has its explanation. The essence came down to the fact that the designers were important to press the engine as close as possible to the ground, but it was impossible to increase the wheelbase, because it was no less important to achieve the machine to make the impression of monolith. There was only one to position the motor right in the middle between the front and rear axle. And how it was done, if you do not expand it 90 degrees and put it not along, but across the body? By the way, in order to achieve the same dynamics at the longitudinal location of the motor, it would have to increase the wheelbase, and this, as I said, was extremely undesirable. Yes, and for the trunk would not be left. Yes, you look at R8! After all, his full length is almost the same, but the engine is standing along the car, and all, no trunk! Maybe someone will say: Well, no, and not! But, they say, above this notorious efficiency. But is it just that even a sports bag with gloves and helmet and then put nowhere?! And there is nothing about passengers and talk. And the car NSX is still a trunk, and what's wrong with that?
In fact, the designers of Honda, which were engaged in the development of the NSX model, could be accused of anything, but not that they were allegedly not thought about economic indicators. Where else can you find a middle class car that would have such a small fuel consumption with such a dynamics? And all through an aluminum body, a small weight, but a powerful engine (even if it does not like someone that it is a 6-cylinder), well, and the cross-arrangement of this engine. What happened in the end? Yes, just that, being a middle class machine, it is quite capable of overtaking with many sports cars class above, including Ferrari with all its 8 cylinders! Oh, yes, I agree: in connection with the advent of the new Audi R8, which has the same layout of Midship, as well as NSX, everyone understood that such cars can be simple and convenient to manage. But I, however, I take the courage to argue that, as it may,, but such a feeling of the driver's close unity with the car, such an excitement, as behind the wheel of the NSX, you will no longer experience anywhere. Even if you manage the Audi R8, this is the whole difference!
 
 
What is correct, Sport Premium or Sport in kind?
So, I repeat, in the development of the Honda NSX car, everything was done to increase its efficiency: created an aluminum body, picked up a relatively light 6-cylinder engine, which also put across the body, which, you see, not quite usually. And then they constantly worked on its high-speed data, so today the modification of R became definitely the best sports car of the middle class.
But here is another sports car Audi R8, which also has an aluminum body, and the same layout of Midship. But it is interesting what Audi designers have sought, making an aluminum sports car, and did what they wanted? It is clear that the more easier the body, the less fuel consumption at the same speed. Calculations show that with all other equal conditions Iron body would be 200 kg harder, so that an increase in the efficiency is an indisputable fact. But if Honda has been concerned mainly by this most efficiency, the AUDI, apparently, looks at the problem somewhat wider.
See: The appearance of the first car of Audi brand with the body made completely from aluminum, happened in 1994, that is, 4 years after the Sensational Debut of the Honda NSX car. Let me remind you that it was the Audi A8 model. But if Honda chose for his sports car, the frameless Body of Monocokes, Audi went on otherwise and created the ASF spatial frame (Audi Space Frame). And then purposefully led to the bridge of this frame, using it not only in the A8 cars of subsequent generations, but even testing it on a small agent A2. Then there were also two generations TT, in which, however, the body was half of aluminum, half of the iron, and now it was finally decided to make an aluminum frame for sports R8. Such perseverance and purposefulness convincingly suggests that the spatial aluminum body has become for designers not just a means of solving private tasks, but was selected as a priority or, more precisely, the Audi branded technology. This company, as you know, there is already the fact that it considers its branded skate this is a quattro drive system, which, along with the design and quality of the decoration, has become the premium attribute of the premium machines. And now, apparently, Audi has another such sign of distinction. That is, all this fuss around the aluminum body needed, among other things, in order to support the Audi brand.
So, the lightweight aluminum body on one side increases the efficiency of the machine, and on the other, should indicate the high technical potential of the company producing it. Consequently, currently the R8 car is not just a new model, this is part of the Audi strategy, not otherwise. After all, in one of this car, the entire Arsenal is focused, which is owned by the company: there is a direct injection system, and Quattro, and ASF, and plus a first-class design and quality. In terms of saturation of various kinds of equipment, there are no complaints and can not be, only the exception that the weight of the car turned out to be more than it could be assumed. If, for example, to leave only the equipment without which it just no way could probably play a kilograms of 200, bringing the total weight of the machine to 1,400 kg. But what does the necessary minimum mean, if we are talking about the car premium class? Thus, on the one hand, there is a fight against excess weight, but on the other hand, it turns out that this struggle is directed only against non-imperial weight for the weight that can increase the prestige of the car and the company that produces it. So it turns out that for Audi, the main sport is a sport, but not in a clean, refined form, but in a beautiful, glossy wrapper. But what to do if, repeat, these are new trends? Ignore stupid, it means that it is called what is called, match.
As opposed to this car Honda NSX, in which everything is aimed at solving one task to maximize its efficiency, seems like a natural athlete (sport, it means sport!). But the trouble is currently not consistent with the predetermined idea of \u200b\u200bwhich sports car should be. Then the question is appropriate: what of the two-name sports cars should be considered correct? I believe that this question has no definite answer. Both in their own way! I would say so.
 

Will it raise the prestige of the brand, that is the question
After all of the foregoing, again, back to the assessment of the direct challenges of both cars. And here it seems to me that the Honda NSX car is, no doubt, a completely unique project. In fact, the model has existed for more than 18 years, and, nevertheless, she still has not lost its relevance, and even against the background of modern analogues, it is capable of captivate and charm. After all, if you do a new model, following the old concept, it is only due to the improvement of aluminum technology, you can reduce the weight of the machine to 1 100 kg. This is if not changing its size. Of course, if you increase the size of the car, but to equip it, which is called, in the complete scheme, then weighing it will increase in it, however, in this case, everything can be limited to 1,300 kilograms. For a car with a similar weight, a 6-cylinder V-shaped engine with a working volume of 3.5 liters and with a capacity from 300 to 350 hp It would be more than sufficient. And the fuel consumption would remain low. It is possible even that with increasing body size, the engine could not be put across, but along the car. Well, and then further, of course, there are even more tempting prospects, associated with the appearance of an 8-cylinder motor. All this completely does not contradict the concept of NSX, which was chosen even then, in previous years, but which is now quite suitable for the release of a modern sports car.
In short, if the designers of Honda set themselves the task of developing an ultra-speed sports car on the basis of NSX, they would have everything turned out at the best. For Honda, it would be all the more important that another such an impressive car was simply left. As for the Audi car, the attempts to combine the aluminum body with the design and quality of the finishing of the premium class makes this car similar to all other models of this brand, so the essence of a pure sports car begins to blur.
So, what do we have in the end? And the one, and the other company seeks to actively use aluminum in their machines, and in this plan it can be argued that both of them demonstrate commitment to the same philosophy. At the same time, each of these brands, or, as they say now, brands their own face. So, the question is whether it will lead to aluminum technology to increase the prestige of the brand itself, or not. And here you need to admit that Audi has chosen the correct, successful line, since the trend that Premium Sport can be called, does not contradict our idea of \u200b\u200bwhat is real Audi. As for the Honda brand, then there is not so unequivocal. Of course, the new generation of the NSX model in principle has every chance of what is called, to support the brand, but can this happen in reality, it is too early to speak about it.
Technical characteristics of Audi R8 FSI Quattro
 
Full length: 4 435 mm.
Full width: 1 905 mm.
Full height: 1 250 mm.
Wheel base: 2 650 mm.
Machine weight: 1 630 kg.
Drive: 4WD.
Engine: 4.2-liter 8-cylinder with V-shaped cylinder arrangement, DOHC gas distribution mechanism, developing capacity of 309 kW (420 hp) at 7,800 rpm, the largest torque of 430 nm (43.8 kg m) at 6,000 rpm.
Transmission: 6-speed boxavatomat.
Basic car price: 16 million 700 thousand yen ($ 166,500).
Technical characteristics of the car Honda NSX-R
 
Full length: 4 430 mm.
Full width: 1 810 mm.
Full height: 1 160 mm.
Wheel base: 2 530 mm.
Machine weight: 1 270 kg.
Drive: on the rear wheels.
Engine: 3.2-liter 6-cylinder with V-shaped cylinder arrangement, DOHC gas distribution mechanism, developing power 206 kW (280 hp) at 7,300 rpm, the largest torque is 304 nm (31.0 kg m) at 5,300 rpm.
Transmission: 6-speed manual box
Basic (sale) Machine price: 12,554,800 yen ($ 125,000).
 

Source: CarView.co.jp.