Discussion of NSX press cars

[NoelWatson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN_HbmZq_Xk

[TheSebringOne]

Interesting video. I really liked the lowered & pearl colour look of the master's own car. Even though it was heavier by around 40-50kgs, it held its own, but the press car caught it up in the up hill stretch, which suggest it may have been tweaked.

All in all three great models, two in white & one in beige/bronze! ;)

[Sudesh]

Is it just me or does the first white car look, "Pearl White"

[Justin]

These guys in the video seem to take it as axiomatic that the press cars are set up a bit more specially than the equivalent retail cars, I wonder if there's much truth in that?

Certainly, it's interesting to see how fastidiously P27 was set up and maintained as a press car, huge emphasis on tracking etc all the time... And then there's simon's contention that it was consistently stronger on the dyno than other standard tune NA2s too.

[Justin]

And we're all going to have to perfect that vtec pelvic thrust thing in time for the club dinner :yes:

[Silver Surfer]

Part 2 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUabmNLrG0I&NR=1

SS

[Ewan]

These guys in the video seem to take it as axiomatic that the press cars are set up a bit more specially than the equivalent retail cars, I wonder if there's much truth in that?



Not relevant to the NSX, perhaps, but a friend of mine was instrumental in the Ford GT coming to Britain. He maintained the press cars that were used throughout Europe, and said that he was periodically sent "updates" to the cars from Detroit, which he reckoned would make up to 100bhp over the stock, published figures.

So it seems obvious that a press car would be somewhat blueprinted if the manufacturer was keen to see it outperform its rivals. A few years ago, I bought a car which I later discovered to have been the press car (http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/25589/maserati_spyder_gt.html) and I doubt it was fettled in any way - the only effect was that the clutch & flywheel both needed replacing (at some considerable expense) after 14,000 miles!

E

[NoelWatson]

I remain convinced that the 02 press car was very special

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/25805/bmw_m_coupe_v_corvette_zo6_v_nsx_v_carrera_4s_v_tu scan_s.html

[AR]

I am not sure, certainly dyno has proven inconclusive.

[NoelWatson]

I am not sure, certainly dyno has proven inconclusive.

That 02 car hasn't been on dyno as far as I am aware??

[markc]

These guys in the video seem to take it as axiomatic that the press cars are set up a bit more specially than the equivalent retail cars, I wonder if there's much truth in that?

Certainly, it's interesting to see how fastidiously P27 was set up and maintained as a press car, huge emphasis on tracking etc all the time... And then there's simon's contention that it was consistently stronger on the dyno than other standard tune NA2s too.

It's not easy to extract significantly more power out of an NA car. I suspect they were just fastidiously set up before being sent on each assignment to give the very best account of themselves.

P27 has always recorded very similar figures to other healthy well maintained cars at RR/Dyno days. See table here... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/index.php?categoryid=26


Not relevant to the NSX, perhaps, but a friend of mine was instrumental in the Ford GT coming to Britain. He maintained the press cars that were used throughout Europe, and said that he was periodically sent "updates" to the cars from Detroit, which he reckoned would make up to 100bhp over the stock, published figures.
E

It's easily done, and easily reversible, with a FI engine... GTR (cough) ;)

Cheers

Mark

[NoelWatson]

It's not easy to extract significantly more power out of an NA car. I suspect they were just fastidiously set up before being sent on each assignment to give the very best account of themselves.

P27 has always recorded very similar figures to other healthy well maintained cars at RR/Dyno days. See table here... http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/index.php?categoryid=26



It's easily done, and easily reversible, with a FI engine... GTR (cough) ;)

Cheers

Mark


P27 couldn't manage 160 at Millbrook, the 02 car managed over 170. That must be around 50bhp difference, even taking into account better drag.

[markc]

P27 couldn't manage 160 at Millbrook, the 02 car managed over 170. That must be around 50bhp difference, even taking into account better drag.

Different day, different conditions, different driver though i.e. too many variables to be a fair comparison. Also Millbrook is only a 1 mile bowl and therefore not conducive to top speed measurement, there's a lot of tyre scrub caused by you having to steer down the banking at speeds beyond 100mph.

Mark

[NoelWatson]

Different day, different conditions, different driver though i.e. too many variables to be a fair comparison. Also Millbrook is only a 1 mile bowl and therefore not conducive to top speed measurement, there's a lot of tyre scrub caused by you having to steer down the banking at speeds beyond 100mph.

Mark

I can't see why the driver would make any difference - in something like an NSX it would be a case of putting your foot down and holding it. The bowl is reckoned to be 1mph slow every 10mph over 100mph, so the 02 car could do almost 180 on the flat. It wasn't just the top speed - its acceleration was on a par with a 355.

[simonprelude]

Temperature was a huge factor, most cars were at least 10% down from previous vmax attempts......

[Nick Graves]

So is wind etc...

There is a fair old difference between the quoted VMaxes of the aerodynamic facelifts & the older cars, despite the increase in front tyre size too.

[markc]

I think the factory figures are Pop-up 168mph, Facelift 172mph.

The facelift car has to deal with gearing very slightly raised by the wider rear tyres, same 40 profile therefore "taller", rather than wider fronts. The more slippery aero of the Facelift cars is therefore worth a bit more than 4mph.

Cheers

Mark

[NoelWatson]

I think the factory figures are Pop-up 168mph, Facelift 172mph.

The facelift car has to deal with gearing very slightly raised by the wider rear tyres, same 40 profile therefore "taller", rather than wider fronts. The more slippery aero of the Facelift cars is therefore worth a bit more than 4mph.

Cheers

Mark

02 NSX is apparently 175mph - I don't think a standard car would do this, let alone the near 180mph that the press car would do.

http://www.supercars.net/cars/2456.html

http://www.pumaracing.co.uk/TOPSPEED.htm



I guessed the weights


Pre 02 Post 02
Top speed 168 175
Weight 1400 1370
Drag factor 0.013 0.013

18.2 17.81


Cd 0.32 0.3
CdA 6.13 5.74
442.9135872 450.016

Total drag 461.1135872 467.826

Power required 206.57 218.31

[TheSebringOne]

Sorry a bit off topic, I found the engine part of the first article interesting although some of it was a little over my head.