In November 1992, Honda's first Type R was released for sale as the NSX R.
It was released for a period of three years, and production ended in December
1995 (the total number of vehicles produced between November 1992 and December 1995 was 465).
On the day after the 1992 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Circuit,
Ayrton
Senna also took the steering wheel of the Type R and drove it through the Suzuka Circuit, giving it high marks.
Honda Collection Hall Collection Vehicle Driving Video 1992 & 2002 NSX-R
So, what kind of car is Honda's first Type R? And what does it mean to drive it? When the NSX went on sale
(1990), the late 80's and 90's was the “golden era” of F1, when many attractive teams and drivers competed,
and machines equipped with Honda engines were active. At that time, F1 had become popular in Japan,
with many fans having fond memories of the white and red "Marlboro" cars.
McLaren Honda has brought down the image of the strongest Honda brand, when
Honda meant racing engine, fast and all-around great image. In particular, the Type R, which debuted in 1992,
is said to have changed the history of cars in one fell swoop. First of all, it was made extremely light;
it was 120 kg lighter than the standard NSX's 1,350 kg, weighing 1,230 kg.
There are various stories behind this weight reduction. Initially, the goal was to reduce the weight by 150 kg,
and it was understood that it was okay to go overboard. The floor mats on the coupe are thick, but on the R they are thin and light.
More details
Total length x Total width x Total height (m)
4.430 x 1.810 x 1.170
Wheelbase (m)
2.530
Wheel track (m)
1.510
As for the size, it has been proven that the size at that time is still perfectly acceptable even today.
So, what was it like actually driving the Type R? All the journalists were raving about it.
What's good? As expected, the power balance of the NA engine at high revolutions, the transmission that can handle it,
good traction, and the lightweight design meant that this power was enough to compete on the race circuit.
The Type R was so well-made that one might wonder if it was even OK to sell it in Japan.
It was also compared to the Skyline GTR (R32) and the Lancer, but the more laps were made,
the more the Type R came out on top. This was due to the NA engine and the light weight of the car.
NSX R was able to accelerate and brake qucikly.
Entered Le Mans in 1994, 1995 and 1996
Among the NSX cars that participated in the LM-GT class of the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1994 to 1996,
the Honda NSX-GT2 took class victory in 1995, contributing to the class victory achieved by the only Japanese trio
(Kunimitsu Takahashi, Keiichi Tsuchiya, and Akira Iida) that has yet to be beaten.
This has further enhanced the NSX's racing image and reaffirmed its popularity and capabilities.
The Honda team has been sending the NSX-GT for the All Japan GT Championship since 1997, but in 2023,
the curtain fell down on 26 years of racing activity that had been going on forever.
The NSX, the pinnacle of Honda's racing, has proven itself to be Honda's starting point in many races.
In 2002, the history of the NSX took another major turn.
It was the birth of the second NSX R.
About seven years had passed since production of the first NSX R ended in 1995, and the second-generation NSX-R
was released in 2002 with a large air outlet on the bonnet and a black rear wing that crossed at a higher position.
It was easy to identify the special model at a glance, without even showing off the red badge.
Those were not merely for differentiation. Combined with the front undercover and rear diffuser, it provided negative
lift in the front and in the rear. In other words, the new R seemed to stick to the ground the faster it went.
Honda's engineers are proud of their new approach to speed, which they call "aerodynamic control.'"
In addition to aerodynamic parts, the Type R is 70 kg lighter than the standard version thanks to a diet that focuses
on every spoonful of calories, including the use of carbon fiber for the bonnet and rear wing, shaving down the wheels,
thinning the partition glass that separates the cabin from the engine compartment behind it, and reviewing the interior materials.
Again, how do we know what's so good about the NSX R? In theory, when a person gets into a car, it begins move forward,
but how does the body of the car sink and then rise up? How about the accelerator at that time?
Simply put, the NSX R is a car that begs you to press the accelerator harder and harder, and only
about 600 owners (465 early model, 155 later model) will be able to drive it easily.
If there was a championship in the world for cars with up to 300 horsepower, I think the NSX R would be number one by far.
The NSX R no longer needs 400 horsepower, and I believe that its size, wheelbase, and wheel truck are still acceptable in the modern era.
Have fun driving this normally.
Further ahead you can see the McLaren Honda driven by Ayrton Senna.
Senna test drove the Type R at the Suzuka International Circuit, and it was the Honda spirit, the NSX R.