Providing for the safety of Acura customers and other road users has been a point of paramount importance for the Acura brand from its inception. Like all Acura vehicles, the 2017 Acura NSX starts with stable, precise and predictable driving dynamics—steering, handling and braking—as the foundation for active safety performance and collision avoidance. To provide a high-level of occupant protection in the event of a collision, the NSX employs its advanced multi-material body design along with both primary and supplemental restraint systems, which work as a system to effectively manage the energy in a collision, minimizing cabin intrusion and mitigating occupant injury.
The NSX’s innovative multi-material space frame utilizes cast aluminum nodes—including a world’s first application of ablation casting technology—and highly rigid extruded aluminum frame members for superior crashworthiness and occupant protection with light weight and high rigidity. The NSX also utilizes the world’s first application of a three-dimensionally formed and water jet-quenched ultra-high-strength steel for its A-pillar construction, which offers robust structural rigidity including roof-crush performance.
Furthermore, the multi-material space frame design and the packaging of hybrid componentry, including the vehicle’s lithium-ion batteries and high-voltage systems, have also been optimized for both occupant protection and for the safety of emergency personnel (first responders).
Standard primary and supplemental restraint systems include:
- Single-stage driver and dual-stage passenger multiple-threshold front airbags (SRS)
- Driver knee airbag
- Side airbags
- Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor
- Three-point seatbelts with a load-limited equipped automatic tensioning system
Accompanying these passive safety technologies, an additional level of safety performance is afforded by these advanced active and passive safety technologies:
- Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
- Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Location and Pressure Indicators
- LED Daytime Running Lights
Multi-Material Space Frame – Occupant and Component Protection
The NSX’s aluminum-intensive multi-material space frame utilizes a combination of materials throughout the platform for high strength and rigidity in the event of a collision. The NSX’s space frame construction consists of highly rigid aluminum extrusions, aluminum stampings, high-strength steel stampings, and ablation cast aluminum frame nodes (integrated with front and rear frame rails) which serve as critical components in the absorption and dispersion of energy in both front and rear impacts.
Additional platform fortification and occupant safety performance is provided by the world’s first automotive application of 3-dimensional bent and quenched ultra-high-strength A-pillars, which support the overall safety performance of the body, including roof-crush performance, while providing for outstanding forward visibility (see below and Multi-Material Body section for additional detail).
Strength and Energy Absorption with Ablation Cast Nodes
To achieve improved occupant protection and crashworthiness, the NSX’s body/chassis engineering team opted to use an all-new material technology—ablation cast nodes—over the design and fitment of traditional aluminum castings within the crumple zones of the multi-material space frame. The Acura NSX represents the world’s first automotive application of this new casting technology.
Ablation cast nodes have been fitted at key junctures within the front of the space frame to help optimize impact protection for the vehicle’s occupants in the event of a collision. Strong and stout, these ablation cast nodes help to minimize overall vehicle weight while offering superior strength and tremendous ductility to facilitate energy absorption in a collision. An added benefit in the ablation casting process is the flexibility to tune the component’s wall thickness for optimal weight, strength and deformability (see Multi-Material Body section for more information).
The space frame’s front nodes are designed to deform and in the process to absorb energy in a frontal collision, helping to minimize the transfer of kinetic energy to the cabin. Additionally, two ablation cast nodes in the rear frame are designed for ultimate rigidity to transfer crash energy into the extruded aluminum rear frame rails in order to mitigate the potential for forward movement of the rear power unit in the event of a rear collision.
Ultra Thin, Ultra Strong A-Pillars Use World First Technology
Another innovative new technology application designed into the platform of the NSX is the implementation of A-pillars composed of three-dimensionally formed, ultra-high-strength steel members. The fabrication method allows the pillars to be substantially smaller in cross section than conventional methods, greatly improving visibility while exceeding federal roof crush standards. This is the world’s first application of the fabrication technology within the automotive industry.
The A-pillar cross section, at 89 millimeters, is approximately 35 millimeters narrower than a part using a traditional stamped-steel construction method (see Multi-Material Body section for more information).
Fuel Tank Design/Packaging
The NSX’s 15.6 gallon fuel reservoir is a twin-tank system designed to enhance safety performance in the event of a rear-end collision. By using a twin-tank configuration, the design team was able to package the fuel tanks in the safest location possible—tucked neatly between the rear bulkhead and the engine.
Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) Packaging
The Intelligent Power Unit (IPU), containing the vehicle’s lithium-ion hybrid battery, is strategically packaged inside the cabin in front of the rear bulkhead, optimizing protection in the event of a frontal or rear collision. Further, the location helps protect the IPU from damage in a side impact by the use of highly rigid B-pillars and cross-car extrusion members. In testing the performance of this system, engineers went beyond standard government crash safety protocols for side impact performance, which engage the vehicles door structure (forward of the IPU) and tested a side pole impact occurring directly on the vehicle’s B-pillar with no damage to the IPU/battery.
Three-Point Seatbelts with Automatic Tensioning System
Both the driver and passenger seatbelts are equipped with an automatic tensioning system to help protect the vehicle’s occupants in the event of a collision. When an impact occurs, the automatic tensioning system tightens the seatbelts (shoulder and lap) to help position the occupant firmly in the seat within the first few milliseconds of the collision. In the event of a severe, high-speed collision, if deceleration forces rise above a predetermined level, the automatic tensioning system will release a small length of seatbelt webbing to reduce the seatbelt retention force on the occupant, limiting peak restraining forces.
Single-Stage Driver, Dual-Stage Passenger, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags
Single-stage driver and dual-stage passenger, multiple threshold front airbags (SRS) offer superior safety performance for the vehicle’s occupants. The SRS system is able to detect crash severity, seatbelt usage, and additional factors that allow for optimized deployment timing as well as the capability to inflate the dual-stage passenger airbag at different rates of expansion.
The single-stage driver’s airbag promotes early restraint while maintaining constant pressure by reducing airbag volume early and maximizing volume later in the deployment. Along with proper seatbelt use, the single-stage driver and dual-stage passenger multiple threshold front airbag system helps to reduce the chance for head/neck and upper body injuries in the event of a frontal collision. The front airbag system is neatly concealed, with the driver’s airbag housed within the center of the steering wheel and the passenger’s airbag seamlessly contained and hidden out of view within the dashboard. A great deal of time and effort was put into eliminating the seam around the passenger airbag in keeping with the quality execution and design aesthetic throughout the entire cabin.
Depending upon the severity and direction of a collision, activation of the multiple threshold front airbags may occur independently of the deployment of side airbags or the side curtain airbags. In addition, the airbag system also uses sensors in the seat to assess the weight of the front passenger. The passenger airbag is shut off if the weight sensors indicate that an infant or small child is occupying the passenger seat, although the NSX is not recommended for passengers age 12 or younger.
Driver Knee Airbag
The driver’s knee airbag is designed to supplement the driver’s single-stage airbag in the event of a frontal collision by helping keep the driver in proper position. The driver’s knee airbag also provides improved packaging benefits. By utilizing an airbag instead of a knee bolster, the design team was able to provide improved knee clearance for the driver, aiding comfort and ease of vehicle ingress/egress.
Side Airbags
Packaged within the driver and passenger seat side bolsters, the side airbags are designed to deploy and inflate quickly to maximize potential protection for properly-seated occupants, helping to protect the occupants’ upper body (thorax and pelvis) from injury, or evacuate (vent) expanding gases before fully inflating if an occupant is positioned in the airbag deployment path, helping to mitigate the potential for occupant injury from the airbag deployment.
Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
Mounted in the outboard roof area nearest to the door, side curtain airbags provide additional head and upper torso protection for the NSX’s occupants in the event of a moderate-to-severe side impact or vehicle rollover. The side curtain airbags effectively cover the window area from the A-pillar back to the C-pillar.
In the event of a rollover, a roll-rate sensor and multiple G sensors determine the rate of roll and deploy side curtain airbags at the correct moment for optimum protection. In the case of a rollover, the side curtain airbags on both sides of the vehicle will deploy. However, in the event of a moderate-to-severe side impact that does not result in a rollover, only the side-curtain airbag on the impacted side of the vehicle will deploy.
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control
Active vehicle safety and driving dynamics are enhance by the implementation of an advanced Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control system that can minimize traction loss or correct vehicle dynamics prior to it occurring, often before the driver even realizes.
By continually monitoring key dynamic parameters and driver inputs such as steering angle, throttle position, yaw rate, lateral G-force, vehicle speed, and individual wheel speeds to detect an oversteer or understeer condition, the VSA with Traction Control system—working in conjunction with the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system and the power unit—is able to instantaneously and unobtrusively redirect torque and/or invoke the ABS braking system at each wheel as needed to help stabilize the vehicle. What’s more, it provides an additional level of safety performance by increasing tractability/reducing wheel spin in conditions with reduced traction such as while driving in wet, icy or snowy conditions.
Developed through extensive testing on both road and track, the NSX engineering team has created a vehicle stability system that is highly effective while minimizing intrusion on the driving experience. In most instances, the VSA response is so quick and seamless that vehicle instability is likely to be corrected absent the driver’s involvement or awareness.
VSA is fully functional in the Quiet, Sport and Sport+ drive mode of the Integrated Dynamics System, but its dynamic performance is tuned accordingly, with progressive variations in its threshold of engagement and level of intervention. If desired, the driver can disable the VSA with Traction Control when operating the NSX in the “Track” mode setting of the Integrated Dynamics System. Disabling VSA requires that the driver first select Track mode, which requires a deliberate, five-second holding of the Dynamic Mode dial, after which the driver must depress the VSA button on the left side of the instrument panel for an additional six seconds. Shutting off and restarting the vehicle will return the system to its default setting, with the VSA enabled.
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
The superlative deceleration performance offered by the Acura NSX’s next-generation super sports brake system seamlessly melds both mechanical (friction) and regenerative braking systems for exceptional braking performance. Braking is further enhanced through a sports-oriented Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
By varying the amount of force of a vehicle’s brakes at each individual wheel, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) acts as an extension of the ABS by applying the optimal amount of braking force at each wheel to maximize vehicle stability while optimizing stopping power.
As a further supplemental technology to the ABS and EBD, the Brake Assist system on the NSX provides an additional level of supplemental braking pressure when the driver attempts a hard or emergency stop.
Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
When Reverse gear is selected, the convenient Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines automatically displays one of three different real-time views—Normal, Wide-Angle and Top-Down—behind the vehicle on the Display Audio screen, allowing the driver to more precisely navigate when backing up. The driver can choose whether to display dynamic guidelines (lines that articulate with movement of the steering wheel to show the arc the vehicle will travel while backing up), fixed guidelines or no guidelines at all. The dynamic and fixed guidelines settings help indicate the clearance required while maneuvering.
- Normal View – helpful for surveying the area directly behind the vehicle while backing up or parking
- Wide-Angle View – displays a nearly 180 degree perspective behind the NSX, perfect when backing out of a parking spot where it is difficult to see cross traffic or when parked between two tall vehicles
- Top-Down View – offers a highly-detailed and close-up view immediately behind the vehicle, ideal for backing into tight confines
If the last view mode used was Normal or Wide-Angle, that same mode will appear the next time the Reverse gear is selected. If Top-Down View was last used, it will revert to Wide-Angle View when used next.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Location and Pressure Indicators
Every Acura NSX includes an onboard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Location and Pressure Indicators that display the current tire pressure in pounds per square inch (psi) of each individual tire in a visual graphic shown on the center gauge cluster (in the Multi-Information Display)—an important safety feature for an ultra-high-performance supercar such as the new NSX.
Of note, the TPMS has different warning thresholds for both low- and high-speed operation, as track driving requires an elevated tire pressure.
LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
The NSX’s LED daytime running lights (DRL) offer improved safety when driving the vehicle during daylight hours by allowing the vehicle to be seen earlier and more conspicuously by other drivers/pedestrians on the road.
Front and Rear Parking Sensors
Available with the optional Technology Package, a front and rear parking sensor system, located on the outer front and rear perimeter of the vehicle, can alert the driver to an approaching obstacle. The parking sensors function in both Reverse as well as with forward vehicle motion at low speeds.