Acura has just announced that they will be producing a limited-edition NSX Type S variant for the 2022 model year, which will also serve as the swan song for the brand’s halo car (now in its second generation). Officially unveiled during Monterrey Car Week, the Type S will be the “quickest, most powerful and best-handling production NSX ever” according to the automaker, with an enhanced version of the 3.5L twin-turbocharged hybrid engine now producing 600 hp and 492 lb-ft of torque. The 9-speed DCT and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) have also been optimized to get the most out of the car’s improved performance. The NSX Type S will also come standard with a carbon-fiber roof, as part of its weight reduction protocols.
Distinctive design cues and more aggressive aerodynamics are also at the core of the car’s improved driving character, with race car components – such as a GT3-inspired rear diffuser – being among the most easily distinguishable features. The NSX Type S will also come with redesigned front and rear bumpers, unique 5-spoke wheels, Pirelli P-Zero tires, and a retuned adaptive suspension system. Optional features such as Gotham Gray exterior paint and an available Lightweight Package – which includes carbon-ceramic brakes and more carbon fiber components – are also exclusive to the Type S.
Limited to a production run of only 350 units (of which 300 will be allocated for U.S. customers), this latest rendition of the NSX further sets itself apart from the regular model with special ‘Type S’ logos and nameplates visible throughout the interior and exterior of the car. The NSX is also the latest model – with the TLX Type S and MDX Type S having already been announced – to partake in the automaker’s image-rebranding project, which through an expanding line-up of Type S variants, looks to establish Acura as a legitimate high-performance marque. It will also mark the first time the ‘Type S’-badged NSX has been sold outside of Japan.
While the new NSX Type S marks the end of an era, Acura said that it “will continue to pursue sports cars,” with Vice President Jon Ikeda noting that the company is “already investigating what the next generation of sports cars should be in the coming electrified era”. It wouldn’t be farfetched to see the return of a new NSX model in the future, though the automaker is already hinting that it would look very different from the cars of the past, should it ever be reintroduced. “NSX is an incredible success story for Acura, leading the reestablishment of Acura as a performance brand and setting the stage for the return of Type S.
The 2022 Acura NSX Type S starts at $169,500 (with the optional Lightweight Package adding another $13,000), which isn’t significantly more than the base model’s MSRP of $157,500 when factoring in all the improvements and considering the rarity of the Type S. Acura is already open for orders via its official website, though prospective buyers will have to fight over the remaining 349 build slots; VIN #001 for the Type S has already been sold, with the rights to being ‘numero uno’ auctioned off to a buyer who would end up paying $1.1 million for that privilege (as part of a charitable event). We understand that the buyer opted for the Lightweight Package, which seemed trivial at that point, but we’re sure he or she is very happy!
