When the Japanese put their minds to something, they don’t just do it well, they do it with near perfect execution. When engineers at Honda were tasked with building a supercar they relished the challenge and produced a machine that truly deserves a place in our “Greatest Cars of All-Time” list. The result of a lot of hard work, intelligent design and basing R&D right next to the famous Suzuka race track was the NSX.
First introduced in 1990, the supercar with a fighter jet inspired field of vision was not only quick, but preserved Honda’s reputation of building bullet proof cars. Powered by a 3.0 litre VTEC V6 engine, this car was the first in the world to feature an all-aluminium monocoque. Helping develop the chassis of the NSX was none other than three times Formula One World Champion and racing legend Ayrton Senna. Producing 270BHP and getting from 0-60MPH in just 5 seconds, this car had the big supercar players worried. In fact in 1991 Motor Trend proclaimed “Ferrari, Porsche and Jaguar had been put on notice.”
The Honda NSX was not only faster than its rivals, cheaper than its rivals, more reliable than its rivals, but also drove better than its rivals. It has often been commented just how supremely balanced this mid-engined marvel is. Everything from how nimble it was on track to the extremely satisfying manual shift, the NSX delivered in bucket loads.
In 1992 the Honda NSX Type-R was introduced to the world. This machine was a more track focused version of the already astonishing standard model. The car was put on an extreme diet with it losing everything from air-conditioning to its electric seats. Total weight saving came to 120KG making the NSX-R just 1,230KG in total. The suspension was also reworked for even more responsive handling. It final drive of the engine was tinkered with resulting in a sub 5 second 0-60MPH time.
In 1995, a full 15 years after its introduction, the Honda NSX came to an end. Leaving a very big mark on the pages of supercar history, it has been sorely missed… At last, 2015 sees a successor.
Bruno Senna, reserve driver for Lotus Renault and nephew of the legendary Formula One multiple world champion has been out and about promoting for his team. Driving last years car wearing fresh 2011 paint he set a lap around Spa, one of the all time greats. Whilst doing so he decided to record some home video but lacked a way of attaching the camera to the car. What did he do? Diver around at speed over 150MPH with one hand! He is at least as mad as his uncle was…
The film industry is one of the largest in the world. Billions are made every year from blockbuster hits that have people glued to the screen for hours. Some of the best plots ever told have come from cinema. Stories of machines from the future, cowboys of the past and events that are currently ongoing. However there is one gripping and heartfelt tale that has never made it to the big screen… Until now. The story of the greatest racing driver who ever lived, Senna.
The film is very smart in the way it portrays the legend himself as the narrator throughout. Beginning with his early carrier and going through to his controversial on track maneuvers, the action is of such epic proportions you could not have scripted it. You build up a real connection to the legend as you watch him dominate so effortlessly, but you also share in his disappointment when his own character costs him what should have been easy victories.
We all know how this tragic story ends but it is not hinted at until the event unfolds. The film even details the day before Senna’s tragic death and how one of his colleagues lost his life. Emotions run high when that fateful race at Imola begins. You almost feel like screaming at your hero not to get into the car but the truth is that he was a racer through and through, had you told him his fate he would have still got in that car. The end is graphic showing in full view the man we all respect so much dying at the side of the track. Now I’m sorry but if you are not affected by these moments in the film, interested in F1 or not, I suggest you see a doctor. I had a tear in my eye as each hopeless attempt to revive him failed. The world morned his death and depicted in the movie is the vast amount of grief even people who had never met the man suffered. The film ends at the beginning with Senna saying that his happiest times behind the wheel was during his karting career “It was pure driving.”
Ayrton Senna; in life unbeatable, in death irreplaceable.
Here we go! Back in black (and gold) the new Lotus-Renault GP Formula One car has been revealed. All F1 cars look the part but in this legendary paint scheme we are going to have to announce this the best looking machine on the grid this year. It has also been announced that Bruno Senna will take the role of lead test driver for the team. Here is the video of the launch.
