Acura NSX (NA1)
Acura NSX (NA1) Quick Specs
| Horsepower | 270 hp @ 7,100 rpm with 5-speed manual; 252 hp @ 6,600 rpm with 4-speed automatic |
|---|---|
| Torque | 210 lb-ft @ 5,300 rpm |
| Curb Weight | Approx. 3,010 lb for early U.S.-market 5-speed manual references |
| Engine | C30A 3.0L DOHC VTEC V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Model Years | 1991–1996 for the primary U.S.-market 3.0L NA1 manual reference |
| Body Style | 2-door, 2-seat coupe; NSX-T open-top body added later in the NA1 period |
This page focuses on the U.S.-market NA1 Acura NSX with the 3.0-liter C30A engine. Manual-transmission cars changed to the NA2/C32B specification for 1997, while automatic-transmission cars retained the 3.0-liter engine in later years.
Core Specifications
| Model | Acura NSX |
|---|---|
| Chassis / Platform Reference | NA1 |
| Market | United States / Acura North America |
| Model Years | 1991–1996 primary U.S.-market 3.0L manual reference |
| Body Style | 2-door, 2-seat coupe; NSX-T removable-roof model added during the NA1 period |
| Layout | Transverse rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| Engine | C30A 3.0-liter DOHC VTEC V6 |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Body Structure | Aluminum monocoque body structure |
| Curb Weight | Approx. 3,010 lb for early U.S.-market 5-speed manual references; automatic and later open-top cars vary |
| Fuel Requirement | Premium unleaded gasoline |
Engine Specifications
| Engine Code | C30A |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 90-degree V6 |
| Displacement | 2,977 cc |
| Bore x Stroke | 90.0 mm x 78.0 mm |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated |
| Valvetrain | DOHC VTEC, 24 valves |
| Block / Head | Aluminum-alloy cylinder block and aluminum-alloy cylinder heads |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 |
| Fuel System | Programmed fuel injection |
| Horsepower | 270 hp @ 7,100 rpm with 5-speed manual; 252 hp @ 6,600 rpm with automatic |
| Torque | 210 lb-ft @ 5,300 rpm |
| Redline / Red Zone | 8,000 rpm red-zone reference for manual-transmission C30A applications |
| Notable Engine Features | DOHC VTEC, titanium connecting rods, direct ignition, resonance chamber volume-switching intake system |
Dimensions & Chassis
| Wheelbase | 99.6 in |
|---|---|
| Length | 173.4 in |
| Width | 71.3 in |
| Height | 46.1 in |
| Front Suspension | Independent double wishbone |
| Rear Suspension | Independent double wishbone |
| Brakes | Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system |
| Steering | Rack-and-pinion steering; electric power steering used on automatic-transmission cars in early U.S. references |
Wheels & Tires
| Front Tires | 205/50ZR15 in early U.S.-market references |
|---|---|
| Rear Tires | 225/50ZR16 in early U.S.-market references |
| Front Wheel Diameter | 15 in |
| Rear Wheel Diameter | 16 in |
| Wheel Type | Aluminum alloy wheels |
Wheel and tire specifications vary by model year and market. Early U.S.-market NA1 references commonly list 15-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels.
Model-Year Notes
- First U.S.-market model year for the Acura NSX.
- Factory U.S. specification listed the 5-speed manual model at 270 hp and the automatic at 252 hp.
- The NSX used an aluminum monocoque body structure and a rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
- Core U.S.-market NA1 coupe specification continued.
- Honda introduced the NSX Type R in Japan in 1992; that model should be documented separately from the U.S.-market Acura NSX.
- U.S.-market NSX production continued with the C30A 3.0-liter V6 and 5-speed manual / 4-speed automatic transmission choices.
- Continued NA1 U.S.-market production before the NSX-T body style was added.
- NSX-T removable-roof model added for the U.S. market.
- Open-top body structure and equipment affected curb weight compared with earlier fixed-roof coupe references.
- Final U.S.-market model year before the manual-transmission NSX moved to the NA2/C32B 3.2-liter specification for 1997.
Factory Colors
Color availability varies by model year and market. The listed colors are representative of commonly documented early U.S.-market NSX colors; exact paint availability should be checked against model-year brochures or factory paint-code references.
Interesting Details
Aluminum Monocoque Body
Honda described the NSX as the world’s first mass-production car with an all-aluminum monocoque body, a central engineering decision made to reduce weight while retaining the equipment and usability expected from a road car.
C30A Titanium Connecting Rods
The C30A used titanium connecting rods, which Honda documented as reducing connecting-rod weight by roughly 190 grams per rod compared with conventional steel rods and helping support high engine speeds.
Common Search Questions
| How much horsepower does the Acura NSX (NA1) have? | The U.S.-market Acura NSX (NA1) has 270 hp at 7,100 rpm with the 5-speed manual transmission. Automatic-transmission cars are listed at 252 hp at 6,600 rpm. |
|---|---|
| How much torque does the Acura NSX (NA1) have? | The Acura NSX (NA1) has 210 lb-ft of torque at 5,300 rpm in early U.S.-market factory specification. |
| How much does the Acura NSX (NA1) weigh? | The early U.S.-market Acura NSX (NA1) curb weight is commonly listed at approximately 3,010 lb for the 5-speed manual coupe. |
| What engine is in the Acura NSX (NA1)? | The Acura NSX (NA1) uses the C30A 3.0-liter naturally aspirated DOHC VTEC V6. |
| What is the Acura NSX NA1 engine code? | The Acura NSX (NA1) engine code is C30A for the 3.0-liter V6. |
| Is the Acura NSX (NA1) mid-engine? | Yes. The Acura NSX (NA1) uses a transverse rear-mid-engine layout with rear-wheel drive. |
| What transmission does the Acura NSX (NA1) have? | The NA1 Acura NSX was offered with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission. |
| What is the difference between NA1 and NA2 NSX models? | In common U.S.-market reference use, NA1 generally refers to the 3.0-liter C30A NSX, while NA2 refers to the 1997-and-later manual-transmission 3.2-liter C32B NSX with a 6-speed manual transmission. |
Related Models
| Honda NSX (NA1) | Honda-branded version of the first-generation NSX sold outside the Acura North American market, with market-specific equipment and power references. |
|---|---|
| Honda NSX Type R (NA1) | Japanese-market lightweight Type R version introduced in 1992. It should be documented separately from the U.S.-market Acura NSX. |
| Acura NSX-T (NA1) | Removable-roof version added during the NA1 period. It retained the 3.0-liter engine but differed in body structure, equipment, and curb weight. |
| Acura NSX (NA2) | Later manual-transmission version using the 3.2-liter C32B engine and 6-speed manual transmission, beginning with the 1997 U.S.-market update. |
Comparable Cars
| Ferrari 348 | Contemporary mid-engine V8 sports car using a naturally aspirated engine and rear-wheel drive. |
|---|---|
| Porsche 911 Carrera 2 (964) | Contemporary rear-engine Porsche sports car using an air-cooled flat-six and rear-wheel drive. |
| Lotus Esprit SE | Contemporary mid-engine sports car using a turbocharged inline-four and rear-wheel drive. |
| Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 (C4) | Contemporary front-engine American performance car using the LT5 DOHC V8 and rear-wheel drive. |
Factory & Reference Sources
Source Notes
ModernSportsCar prioritizes factory-released specifications, manufacturer press materials, official brochures, owner manuals, and technical documents. Credible period road tests and respected reference sources are used only when factory materials are unavailable, incomplete, archived, or useful for clarifying period context.
Specifications can vary by market, model year, transmission, body style, source, and publication date. The values on this page are intended to describe the U.S.-market Acura NSX (NA1), with early 5-speed manual coupe figures used as the primary reference unless otherwise noted.
MSC Taxonomy
| Make | Acura |
|---|---|
| Model | NSX |
| Chassis Code | NA1 |
| Era | 1990s |
| Layout | Mid-engine |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Engine Configuration | V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual / 4-speed automatic |
| Body Style | Two-door coupe / removable-roof NSX-T |
| Market | USDM |
| Country Of Origin | Japan |
| MSC Category | Naturally Aspirated Mid-Engine Sports Car |
Summary
The Acura NSX (NA1) is the early U.S.-market first-generation NSX specification using the C30A 3.0-liter naturally aspirated DOHC VTEC V6. In 5-speed manual form, the NA1 NSX was rated at 270 hp at 7,100 rpm and 210 lb-ft of torque at 5,300 rpm. It used a transverse rear-mid-engine layout, rear-wheel drive, an aluminum monocoque body structure, double-wishbone suspension, and a curb weight commonly listed at approximately 3,010 lb for early U.S.-market manual coupe references.
Where This Fits In
Acura NSX (NA1)
The Acura NSX (NA1) is the original 3.0-liter C30A version of Honda’s first-generation NSX, sold under the Acura brand in North America. It sits at the start of the NSX road-car lineage: a rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, aluminum-bodied sports car developed to combine exotic-car engineering with Honda usability and durability.
Model Lineage
Where The NA1 NSX Fits
The NA1 NSX is the foundation of the NSX lineage. The timeline below separates the core chronological sequence from lateral variants such as the NSX-R and NSX-T, which belong inside the same first-generation family rather than replacing the standard NA1 road car.
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1984–1988
Honda HP-X / NS-X Concept Context
Honda’s mid-engine sports-car development path began before production NSX launch, with experimental concept work that established the basic idea of a lightweight, mid-engine Honda performance car.
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1990–1996
Honda / Acura NSX NA1
Original 3.0-liter C30A NSX generation, sold in North America as the Acura NSX and offered with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
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1997–2001
Honda / Acura NSX NA2
Manual-transmission cars moved to the 3.2-liter C32B engine and 6-speed manual transmission, while automatic cars retained the 3.0-liter engine.
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2002–2005
Facelift First-Gen NSX
Later first-generation NSX updated the exterior with fixed headlights and revised bodywork, while the broader NA1/NA2 distinction still depends on engine application.
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2017–2022
Second-Gen Acura NSX
Hybrid AWD successor using a twin-turbo V6, electric motors, and a dual-clutch transmission rather than the original naturally aspirated, rear-drive formula.