Making the One-Off NSX Concept

d4rk

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Jul 26, 2010
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Johor Bahru
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsxconcept.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-29083" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsxconcept.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="374" /></a>

While the world is still waiting for the new NSX to roll on to the tarmac and show what it is capable of, Hollywood’s new* blockbuster, The Avengers has already featured one rolling in their multi-million dollar movie, wow-ing the audience (especially petrolheads) of the new and radical design. So how does one get a concept car to roll in a movie set while none has actually run yet?

<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-29084" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_1.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></a>

Well if you are in the States, it is not that hard actually. Just get the initial design of the NSX concept from the party that owns it, let’s say, from the Acura’s studio in Torrence, California? And you would also need a fabrication shop that specializes in making these full-scale, fully-functional replicas, which there is one in California called Trans FX, who had some deep experience in making these stuffs. Not to forget, to make it actually movable and drivable, a donor car is needed accommodate the design of the NSX concept, which unsurprisingly, fits just nice onto a 1991 NSX.

<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_2.jpg"><img src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_2.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></a>

Actually, the decision to use the old NSX was from Acura themselves, as they wanted to keep the creation of the replica “in the family”. But the process was not easy, as they were only given five weeks to complete the project. And in those five weeks, the guys at Trans FX would have to strip the NSX’s exterior which includes the original sheetmetal, windshield, frame and the area behind the seats. It is after that procedure, the stripped car was scanned by a huge CNC router so that the new exterior could be machined directly on the old car.

<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_3.jpg"><img src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_3.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></a>

After that, materials like foam were bonded onto the car in a roughed-out block form, where the CNC machine again was responsible in molding out the basic design, a procedure that takes roughly around two days.

<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_4.jpg"><img src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_4.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></a>

<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_6.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-29082" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_6.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></a>

And once the rough part was done, comes in the delicate part, where the front end, windshield, tail lights, wheels, brake rotors and calipers needed attention. Since the car would have to look modern and futuristic, the parts that still bring the 1991 NSX identity needed to be “modernized” through some fabrication.

<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_5.jpg"><img src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nsx_5.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></a>

But even with a limited time frame and budget, the NSX concept replica managed to make an appearance in the movie and also during the movie’s premiere on the red carpets. So how does this awesomely-built replica car run; same like the old NSX? Not exactly. In fact, this one-off Acura was not designed to be drivable, and is more as a promotional piece rather than a performance machine where the add-on fabrication could only withstand speeds of around 50km/h. I wonder what will happen if one tries to bring it to 60 or 70, flying/disintegrating body panels?



Source:
The Avengers hero car: How to make a one-off Acura - Sympatico.ca Autos
Acura NSX concept rolls out on Hollywood's red carpet | Carguide Blog
 

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