WHEN the covers come off the 2020 Honda NSX tomorrow at the Monterey Car Week automotive festival, it will mark the return of a legendary first-generation colour that appeared on the NSX from 1997 to 2003.
Indy Yellow is a modern interpretation of Spa Yellow and joins Berlina Black as one of two original NSX colours that are set to reappear on the Japanese hyper car. Around 20 per cent of original NSX models were Spa Yellow.
The new name stems from the fact the original colour was known as Indy Yellow in some markets, with the colour being phased out at the end of 2003, with Rio Yellow replacing it for 2004 and 2005.
Each new NSX is handcrafted at the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio and continues the NSX tradition of offering an incredible performance vehicle in the super car market.
The 2020 model is powered by an innovative Sport Hybrid SH-AWD power unit consisting of a bespoke twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, nine-speed dual clutch transmission and three electric motors, supplementing the engine with instantaneous electric torque.
The second-generation NSX features an advanced, multi-material body and aluminium-intensive space frame, enabling ultra-high rigidity, compact packaging and outstanding collision safety performance.
At its debut, the 2020 Honda NSX will be displayed alongside an NSX GT3 Evo race car featuring a custom designed livery with yellow and blue accents over the exposed carbon fibre body.
The GT3 race car uses the same multi-material space frame and 3.5-litre twin turbocharged engine design as the road-going version, and has tackled some of the world’s most iconic GT races, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and Spa.
In the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, the NSX GT3 Evo race cars driven by Meyer Shank Racing have posted five wins and 11 podium finishes since its 2017 debut, and in 2019, Meyer Shank Racing leads the Manufacturer and Driver championships.
Around the world, the GT3 variant driven by Autobacs Racing Team (ARTA) leads the GT300 class in the Japanese Super GT series with two podium finishes, and has also competed in Blancpain GT Series Asia and China GT Championship.
It has also taken part in selected events in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, which includes the Bathurst 12-Hour, the Blancpain GT Sports Club and GT Series in Europe, and the ADAC GT Masters in Germany.
There are currently 17 NSX GT3 race cars in the hands of professional and amateur race teams globally, with the GT3 Evo certified to compete in more than a dozen FIA-sanctioned racing series around the world.
