Honda Announces Production Site and Global Chief Engineer for NSX
Honda has announced that the all-new NSX supercar will be produced at a new Performance Manufacturing Centre in Ohio, United States. The $70 million production facility encompasses 184,000 square feet and will be housed inside Honda’s former North American Logistics facility.
The site, which will be Honda’s third car plant in Ohio, is located close to the Honda R&D Americas, Inc. Ohio Centre that is engineering the supercar for production and adjacent to Honda of America Mfg.’s Marysville Auto Plant. The Performance Manufacturing Centre is also close to Honda Engineering North America, Inc., centre for the development of new production technologies.
The Performance Manufacturing Centre will employ approximately 100 associates drawn from within Honda’s existing operations in Ohio. The powertrain will also be assembled in Ohio at Honda’s engine plant in Anna.
The all-new NSX, which will be badged as a Honda in Europe and Acura in the U.S., is being developed by a global R&D team led by designers and engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. located in Los Angeles, Calif., and Raymond, Ohio.
Honda also announced that Honda R&D Americas chief engineer Ted Klaus is leading the global team developing the new NSX, and Clement D’ Souza, associate chief engineer at Honda of America, is leading the team that will bring NSX to mass production in 2015.
“This new plant will be as unique as the vehicle we will build here,” said D’Souza. “In creating the plan for this plant, we looked closely at each process and determined the perfect blend of associate craftsmanship and technology to adopt a new approach to manufacturing.”
The NSX will be powered by a mid-mounted V6 engine mated to Honda’s innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system.
“We have a very clear understanding of the high customer expectations luxury buyers around the world have for a supercar, and our challenge is to exceed them and create new value for the customer,” said Klaus. “This new Performance Manufacturing Centre will be key to this challenge.”
The original Honda NSX was built at the Takanezawa Plant in Japan from 1990 until production moved to the Suzuka Plant in early 2004, where it was produced until 2005. Part of the Tochigi Factory, the Takanezawa Plant was the first manufacturing facility in the world to mass-produce an all-aluminum body.
Source: Honda