In 1990 Honda’s effort to create their own supercar was realised with the launch of the NSX. The design brief sounded simple - to challenge any Italian and German marque that was available, while remaining affordable and reliable. All the lust of a supercar but with the reliability synonymous with owning a Honda. A task that took over 5 years to complete.

Honda’s engineers didn’t fail, and the NSX became a classic sports car that still commands high prices to this day, even with high mileage examples. 3.0 V6, 270PS, RWD and mid mounted engine may not sound much by today's standards but what the NSX lacks in power it more than makes up for with its sublime handling and poise, making it more than a match for many modern supercars.

The standard NSX, however, wasn't enough for Honda and in 1992 a decision was taken to create an even more driver focussed machine, a programe of weight stripping was undertaken, with the end result being a drop of around 120kg over a standard NSX. Stiffer suspension and changed settings made the car less prone to its famous penchant for snap oversteer, this time setting the car up from the outset to be exploited to its true potential only by a driver of increased skill compared to the standard model.

2002 saw a revised NSX and following shortly after, NSX-R, released in Japan. With weight reduction again Honda’s primary focus, the vehicle came in at just 1270kg in R form. Despite the NSX being nearly 15 years old now, its European peers were given a lesson in what good engineering can achieve when in 2003, Japanese driver Motoharu Kurosawa guided an NSX-R around the Nurburgring in a time equal to the newer, more expensive and higher powered Ferrari F360 Challenge Stradale.

The NSX-R remains the imaginary lottery win purchase of many Honda aficionados and no matter how the years progress, seems to always hold onto its mystique. Perhaps the lack of a replacement allows it to hold on to such an accolade as it has never been superseded by a newer model. Either that, or Honda in their quest for ever better handling, managed to create a perfect car.