The NSX was a technological tour de force when it arrived in 1990, but the story didn’t end there. Just two years after the standard car’s launch, the NSX-R hit Japanese showrooms. The new model was track-orientated and, while no extra power was on offer, weight was reduced by 120kg by installing Recaro carbonfibre seats and removing sound-deadening, the spare wheel, sound system, air conditioning and traction control. The suspension was firmed up to reduce weight transfer under heavy braking.
Away from the track, by 1995 the roadgoing NSX had adopted a targa-style roof, allowing it to compete directly with the Porsche 911 and Ferrari 348. The sills, bulkhead and A-posts were strengthened, adding 40kg to the weight, but because it was targeted at the less demanding US market, this…