Here's A Honda Clip That Pleased My Ears And Hopefully Yours: Quick Jump
Hi folks!
We’ve had some new subscribers the last few days midst of a reboot. I guess some of y’all have really taken to the updated name for the blog. Who knew Sped using a logo that’s a potato spud on wheels would be an early hit?
Anyway, it prompts me to pay more attention to the internet. In the off chance that you readers click on this post for the first time, here’s something to know: I can only hear out of one ear since birth. Most of the time I wear a hearing aid but there are instances where I feel like taking it off when I need inner bliss, entering a state of mental nirvana.
Speaking of nirvana, the band of the same name quintessentially defines the 1990s. So does Tom Hanks, Pulp Fiction, Furbies, and a very important supercar. The Honda NSX, which came to the U.S. as an Acura, is a legend [also the name of an Acura back then] in the world of exotics. So much so that one just crossed the auction block for the equivalent of one million dollars.
But why? Beyond jet fighter styling, this had an engine that made 276 horsepower because of a bizarre unofficial agreement in Japan. But things were simpler back then and it didn’t take much to break the glass ceiling in car terms. The NSX was a success merely for being a Honda.
Your choice of supercars were pretty limited and mostly Italian. Ferrari and Lamborghini weren’t exactly bywords for quality. Parts were expensive and often good enough only to get you to the next street block.
Although Honda is a global conglomerate, it became this way because of an insane dedication to innovative engineering that dates back to motorcycles. By the time it transitioned over to cars, engines revved to the sky in order to reach peak power while still having a handle on fuel efficiency. This was still a thing when Clinton came into office.
Beside reliability, the other key factor that gave the NSX its reputation remains in the engine. Essentially, Honda pioneered variable valve timing technology. I’m going to butcher this but what it is is that the more you press the gas pedal, the quicker the intake and exhaust valves opened and closed to push more fuel through. This delivers more power when needed and improves fuel mileage because less gas is wasted.
Honda applied this to the NSX for the first time before VTEC was a thing to take over meme culture. A possibly unforetold consequence of this is that it sounds brilliant when it revs high, i.e. gets louder.
Just take a minute to listen to this clip that best demonstrates it. Headphones are recommended.
If you’re like me, you’ll thank the gods that you possess such auditory ability that you can hear what is essentially a symphony orchestrated by fossil fuels. No wonder that car sold for a million dollars.
NSX models are climbing in value. It’s not uncommon to see one fetch a quarter mil if the miles are low enough. I’m seeing why because digital technology is overrated. Mechanical achievements such as this is cause for longterm appeal.
As time goes on, I’m less keen on what’s in: Artificial intelligence, the depth of capability of smartphones [who’s counting macros?], self-driving taxis to name a few. What if I feel like robbing a bank? How do I take over a Johnny Cab if they don’t have steering wheels?
Don’t bother me with problems I don’t need.
-TA