REVIEW: AUTOart Honda NSX Type R • DiecastSociety.com

REVIEW: AUTOart Honda NSX Type R

I’m not the biggest fan of Japanese automotive culture. Of 350 plus models in my collection, I have less than 10 that sport the “made in Japan” label.  The AUTOart Honda NSX and now the Honda NSX Type R are two of which I’m proud to showcase in my collection.

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In 1992 Honda decided to release a no-compromise edition of the NSX called the NSX Type R.  The Type R focused on weight reduction.  Some of the non-essential items such as sounding deadening materials, audio system, spare tire, and various electric bits were all deleted in favour of true performance.  New additions included Recaro-designed carbon fibre sport seats, lightweight forged aluminum wheels manufactured by Enkei.  All this equated to a weight saving of 256 lb and brought the total gross weight down to 2712 lb.  Other performance improvements included motor enhancements and balancing, upgraded suspension components, and transmission gearing ratio changes.  All these improvements translated into a car that could exceed or keep up to rivals in Europe sporting the Italian or German badge.

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The Honda NSX Type R is a Signature Series release from AUTOart, the Signature Series lines are numbered and provide a certificate of authenticity, along with instructions and booklet that highlight over and above detailing on the car.  I choose the metallic yellow exterior as I already own the NSX version in red, and white was a no-go as we all have too many white cars in our collection already.

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I found the paint is flawless throughout.  I did, however, have some black residue in places that were easily removed with cleaner and lint-free cloth.  Body lines follow the NSX to a fault but there are some noticeable differences between the two.  The front fascia on the NSX Type R no longer sports the fog lights but does feature pop-up headlights.  The centre badge on the hood is solid red, whereas the NSX is an outline of the Honda logo. The side profile is virtually the same on NSX Type R.  Last but not least is the rear, the only visual difference here is the exhaust tips – oval vs. round and the blacked-out rear badge.  Overall we have a very respectable exterior.  Well done AUTOart.

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The wheels are replicated with precision, size, and offset looking correct.  There has been some debate on the wheels, but in my opinion, they are correct.  The exceptional detailing with the powder-coated white finish and painted black lug nuts really show the depth AUTOart went to with the NSX Type R.  Well done!

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The front storage and engine on the NSX is arguably some of the best work to come from AUTOart.  As mentioned earlier, the NSX Type R doesn’t carry the spare tire for weight saving, but in its place are exceptionally detailed braking and suspension components with the hood on updated hinges too.  The rear is even more impressive as you peel back the numerous layers – storage hatch, glass window, pre-motor screen, and engine.  The Type R includes a prop to keep the engine screen at bay, but no one in their right mind can access it based on the fixed position.  The engine is fully detailed and very impressive.  AUTOart even included numerous OEM badges throughout.  I can’t forget to mention the undercarriage, as this has to be some of the best, if not the best, work I’ve seen from AUTOart to date.  The photos will speak volumes here.

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The Interior is anchored with two eye-popping red Recaro racing seats.   Unfortunately, the seats are in the wrong position and with this, the seat belt cannot be passed through the appropriate opening.  Unacceptable!  I’ll be returning my model for a refund and awaiting the corrected version.  Dash and door cards are finished in a rubber-like material, and the shifter is painted a light silver colour.  The centre console looks to be the same in both the NSX and Type R.  Based on my finding, the radio/audio system should not appear in the Type R version.  Anyone know what the correct setup should be, please let me know.

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If you missed the Honda NSX, I highly recommend the NSX Type R.  This is one of those models that any sport or supercar collector should have in their collection.  The detail throughout is truly exceptional!  From the exterior to the motor, and underneath the undercarriage, this model has a lot to offer.  Hats off to AUTOart for doing a great job.  Enjoy the pics!

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3 Responses to "REVIEW: AUTOart Honda NSX Type R"

  1. Wes Shakirov says:

    I love the dash and the steering wheel, though not too sure about the colour, to be honest. That yellow is not juicy enough

  2. Marcus says:

    The NSX-R didn’t come with air conditioning or a stereo, but they both could be ordered for an extra $3000 or so each. So the radio was an option.

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