In today’s ultra competitive supercar market, is the new NSX a worthy representation of Honda’s abilities? That’s a question I could only answer after a proper test of the car, but it’s something I haven’t managed to get around to yet. It’s probably to do with the fact that Honda USA is drip-feeding a supply into the Japanese market; only 50 or so units have made it over thus far. The waiting list is long – or at least that’s what Honda Japan is saying – and that fact alone has made the new generation NSX quite the unicorn in this country.
But today we aren’t here to evaluate this boost-fed, all-wheel drive, mid-engined tech-fest, but rather celebrate the fact that someone has started playing around with the model. And surprise, surprise, that certain someone is our good friend Kato-san of Liberty Walk.
The LB Performance NSX might only represent a simple take on aesthetic tuning, but it’s one that has managed to highlight all that is right about the new NSX’s edgy, futuristic exterior by subtly evolving it into something you just can’t peel your eyes away from.
While Kato already released some promotional images of the car last week, he once again gave Speedhunters the opportunity to get up close and personal with it first. It’s a gesture we very much appreciate.
So let’s get to the gist of what this car all about. For starters, no, your eyes aren’t deceiving you – there are no overfenders to speak of.
Kato hasn’t gone soft on us; this is just a preliminary and basic aero treatment brought to market before the LB Works conversion is unveiled at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas at the end of October.
It makes perfect sense to come out with something a little more restrained and easily reversed too, because not every owner who’s thinking about modifying their brand new ¥23,700,000 ( approximately US$209,500 converted) supercar is going to want to cut it up. This kit still brings some Liberty Walk style to the table, but without the need for an air saw and a jar full of brave pills.
Enhancing AdditionsIt all begins at the front of the car with a diffuser/lip spoiler that attaches onto the stock bumper. This piece of the kit, like all the others, is available in either FRP, CFRP or full on dry-carbon if money is no issue.
From the side, and without the visual exaggeration of the wider lens used for the front-on picture, you can see it’s actually quite subtle. Or maybe it’s because it seems to be such a natural addition to the car’s design? Further enhancing the profile is the fact that the car pretty much sits its entire body on the ground through airbags at all four corners.
As is commonplace with Liberty Walk demo builds, the NSX rolls on Forgiato wheels, in this case the Maglia model featuring a black center with a brushed rim section. Behind the dark spokes remain the factory brakes; there was no need to upgrade these as they’re huge and totally up to the task of reining the Honda’s performance in.
And there’s plenty of that on tap; the twin-turbo V6 squirts the car down the road with zero lag thanks to the massive amounts of torque generated by the twin (electric) motor unit up front. It’s a massively complex drivetrain with a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission at the center of it all, and I have to give a massive high-five to Kawamura-san of LB for giving me a quick little taste of the car’s ability.
The side skirts feature an upturned section as they meet with the rear wheel arch, and ooze aggression from all angles.
It would make a lot of sense having these parts made in carbon fiber, as there is a lot of it around the NSX in its factory form.
The carbon fiber wing mounted by swan-neck stays is not part of the standard kit, but it can be ordered as an option. Some might see it as nothing more than a lairy add-on, but in person it looked absolutely sensational.
The back end of the car is tied in with a one-piece diffuser section that spans the width of the rear end and is moulded to follow the contours of the rear bumper.
While there is plenty of performance on tap with 580hp from the factory, Kato also fitted an Fi Exhaust system to enhance the character of the twin-turbo V6. Mind you, most of the time we were driving the car around it was in EV mode so made no sound at all.
I love the attention to detail that Honda has put into the presentation of the engine, even if it’s obvious that a lot of inspiration has been taken from McLaren. It really fits the bill with great design and plenty of carbon, but are those really black rubber hoses feeding the throttle bodies that I’m seeing? I wish I wasn’t seeing them.
While I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of what Honda has brought to the table with the new NSX, I don’t think you can’t fault the futuristic look of its design. With the Liberty Walk infusion, it was as if aliens had landed on the quiet touge road not too far from Liberty Walk HQ.
We All Know What’s Next…And then there’s the superbly appointed cabin, which is a very nice place to be in. But there’s something missing…
It almost feels too Honda Civic; the designers have tried hard but it’s just not special. It could have something to do with it being a black expanse, so perhaps a little bit of color would have gone a long way.
That said, the build quality is right up there; it’s all put together beautifully and the satin carbon trim is a great highlight. With so many drive modes the controls and displays are perhaps a little gimmicky, but that can probably be said of many high-end performance cars these days.
But there’s no questioning how much presence this Liberty Walk NSX has. It’s also a perfect example of how a few simple bolt-on aero parts can add a lot of visual impact to a car.
Of course, the fact this NSX can air out and drop to the ground in a split second emphasizes this to no end. Check out how much the rear wheels camber inwards on the lowest setting.
Given what we are seeing here, it will be interesting to see how the LB Works version shapes up, likely running wider wheels with stretched tires and sporting equally divisive overfenders.
Make of this whole supercar-restyling movement what you will, but the fact that there are people out there daring enough to do these sort of things to prohibitively expensive automobiles is just fine with me; it only makes the whole aftermarket world more colorful and varied.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com
This looks great, because there's no over-fender stuff on it.
There soon will be lol
NO!
Honestly I still wished this NSX had a manual option still. Just doesn't feel right with a 9 speed DCT.
Maybe the Type-R? Maybe Honda follows what Porsche is doing with their cars...
Well, seeing it has electric motors at the front wheels, therefore considering it a hybrid, I really doubt there will be a manual option. Unless Honda makes a Type R and omits the electric motors and offers a stick shift, a pure link between driver and engine and car. That is what I wish would happen, not saying that's what gonna happen.
If only the wheels are not slammed...people complain Rocket Bunny aero kits, but this one matches the curvy NSX very well.
I think its an adjustable height air suspension.
Would much rather the hsv-010 came out, too bad.
The hsv had that svelte, cockpit-centric appearance, and obvious racing pedigree. The ferrari 488 is what the new nsx should have looked like. IMHO
100% agree... or the next s2000 can be based on it...but...
Fingers crossed we see something at the Tokyo Motor Show this month...
Eh.
The car looks incredible, I love that cower, perfect rims for the car but....I just can't stand that rear camber...why is that a thing???
To have less rear tyre grip, because #instagramswagyolo
Well, camber can be functional, but probably not with this amount...
Once it's raised off its lowest setting it probably runs a lot less camber
Exactly, it's on air, when you air it out the suspension cambers in
best of both worlds
color*
Wow.
Very impressive, some red french stitching on the seats and some leather with french stitching on the glovebox steering wheel dash and some door panels in leather would have really livened up the interior.
Just a tad bit of color in general! And that silver plastic trim on the center console and stack should all be carbon. On a $200k car it SHOULD all be carbon or leather not Honda Accord plastic!
Real aluminum at least. They put too much effort into design and lack of it into producing it.
I loved the nsx before but I love it more now! The only thing I’d change? Maybe a multispoke chrome wheel, instead of the black face, looks like little NFS for me
+1
I do like the spoke on this wheel, but black wheels are soo played
thbbbbbbbpt
Holy crap on a cracker, I really like a Liberty Walk build! Looks great!
Upcoming article: dogs....living with cats!
On a side note, does anyone else think that the NSX front end would look better with the chrome V in carbon fibre or black instead?
There is never enough carbon!
Excuse me while I change my pants....
Awesome awesome car, and awesome LW additions. But... too much camber and Honda gags me with paddle shift and electric passenger seat. Do people really need this stuff? Oh... oh.... help me I'm too weak to move my seat back and forth, I need 50 pounds of extra crap to do it for me (that's why it has carbon to try and make up for that extra fat... CUZ YOU'RE TOO LAZY!!
Don't forget the original NSX was offered in some pretty comfortable trims, AT, electric everything, plush leather seats/trim. All they have to do is offer this in an Type R guise with nothing on it and MT and we'll keep loving Honda forever!
Leave the wheel lips polished but do the centers gold. Or if you're crazy day-glo orange.
Take a new hypercar and slam it to the ground, so it cant be driven anymore. GJ
oh look, another guy who didn't read about the AIRRIDE
Oh look, another guy who's never ridden in an airride vehicle and doesn't understand how garbage the ride is compared to factory supercar shocks and springs. Lmao
Shut up nerd
Guys guys, it's the owners choice. If you don't like it, don't do it to your own NSX. Simple
"Is it a worthy representation of Honda's abilities?"
It's not like they build F1 cars or anything. Good thing they spend all that time engineering suspension geometry so some hack can go and throw bags on it. FML the Japanese used to actually build decent stuff. Smokey Nagata is probably chain smoking at this point. When the !@#$ did it become acceptable to rattle can a Rembrandt?
I was referring to what Honda is capable of doing. If they wanted they could create the absolute best car in the world but with the NSX you get the feel they are just trying to tick boxes of what a modern day supercar should be and feel like. Maybe a Type R version aimed towards the purist would be a more focused and better car. Actually there are no maybes about it!
Dino, Honda could build the best car in the world if they wanted...really???
So they're in F1 right now getting their asses utterly destroyed because of lack of "wanting to be the best". If only they wanted it more, then they'd be class of the field.
Come off it man, you're living off Hondas glory days of the late 80s and early 90s, same as the top brass at Honda who have completely failed to get the job done in F1. Pride, arrogance, and clinging to the legacy of some shit that happened nearly 30 years ago are the main causes for this.
Is it for lack of wanting that Honda is getting their asses worked in Super GT for the last 3 years??
I love your work Dino, but you're being a bit of a fanboy on this one.
Far from it my friend. My "if they wanted" reference was pretty much along the lines of what you just said. IF they stopped thinking about the past, IF they stopped over-designing cars, IF they got off their asses they would be at the very top. IF THEY WANTED. Not sure what the hell is happening at Honda but they sure need to address a few things...
No manual transmission and you had to go with a flippin air suspension. Ruined already, thanks.
How dare you criticize air suspension. Don't you know everything posted on this site is tried and true because the builder said it works. You're just a hater. There's no such thing as anything bad you can do to a car. Everyone is entitled to fucking up a great car. Speed hunter hippies will unite against your hatred until you realize the errors of your ways.
Oh lord here we go, the lil butt hurt air ride stanc-ist.
My opinion and I stick to my ways, this air ride garbage is about as annoying as this generations' so-called hip-hop.
I was sarcastically siding with you man LOL. It really doesn't translate through the internet. Air ride is absolute garbage. I hate the stuff. We're on the same side my dude.
Ah I see, sorry lol!
LOL I'd KW Competition 3-way the @#$% out of it, but that's just me
HEYYYY!!! Dino has a soul after all haha. Just messing with you man. Money no object would probably go with a Penske setup. Something digressive or better yet a regressive internal setup.
Hey, we just cover the scene, if you want to know what I personally like check out the cars I run
True...gotta do it all I suppose. I like most of the stuff you feature.
Honestly, I quite like it. GT3 appearance, always a big plus in my book. However, I saw that the spoiler is touching the bootlid at just two places. How is it fastened?
Thank God we got this feature before the overfenders are on. It possibly can't look as good is it does now.
Im not a fan of the overfenders either. Nice to see the lines from factory
You'll be upset come SEMA time then
I always wondered how a not so big tuning company can afford buying so many supercars and modifing them just to use them as show cars
Because they are in the business of selling fenders for 10k+????
It's owned by a customer, same guy who ones the McLaren I features after TAS this year actually
I gotta say that I really like it. Nice to see a more subtle take from LW.
Thanks for the scoop Dino!
My pleasure
Looks great! Looking forward to the widebody!!
So am I, just to see the general upsetness in the comment section haha
posting this good luck money cat to get this car later
wtf?
Forgiato Maglia wheels.
So, Forged Sweater to the Americans, or Forged Jumper, if you're British. Can't help but crack a smile at that.
Hey I had a good laugh as well. I prefer the Maglione di Lana version hehe
Some of the pictures looked like they were photoshop renderings, just the magic of camera work.
I'll take that as a compliment? Haha
That's some nice work there, Dino.
Thanks Matt!
I think the NSX looks fab, but the whole super camber stretched tyres things killed it for me a bit.
Of course props to the owner for personalising it, but I'd love to see pics of it in "normal drive" mode to see how uncambered it sat....although obviously the tyres would still be stretched.
Negative camber is because of the air suspension.
Hi Dino, Yes I understand that, hence what I was saying about seeing not in "slammed position" aired out, but in driving position at a reasonable ride height to see if the wheels looked better when "stood up".
I always think super camber just looks like the car is broken.
Cheers for the response though!
On no I get you. Always looks like some giant has stepped on the car. I do the same with my kid's diecasts on a daily basis as they leave them all over the damn place. I am a slammer of cars by trade now lol
they are actually quite a nice looking car. very futuristic yet current? looks even better in this form.
they are actually quite a nice looking car. very futuristic yet current? looks even better in this form.