Acura NSX Prototype Flame Broiled on Burgerkingring

It’s been years now since Honda introduced a new generation Acura NSX as a concept and it looks like it may take even more time to reach production since the prototype that was recently spotted testing at the Nurburgring circuit has been pretty much destroyed, apparently the victim of an engine compartment fire.

The fire looks to have been unrelated to the electric drive that powers the all-wheel-drive hybrid supercar’s front wheels. Germany’s Motor Talk reports that the test drivers were able to exit the car without injury but that the NSX prototype appears to be a complete write-off. Though Honda would not comment, a photographer who witnessed the incident said that the fire started in the engine compartment and subsequently spread into the passenger compartment and trunk.

While fires involving the Chevy Volt, Fisker Karma and Tesla Model S have raised the issue of electric and hybrid vehicles’ fire safety (mostly out of proportion to the actual fire risk of EVs), the batteries that supply current to the two electric motors up front in the NSX were reportedly not involved in the fire.

The incident has incidentally has allowed us a look at the NSX’s construction. Composite body panels (which melted in the fire) are mounted to an aluminum unibody, not entirely unlike the Pontiac Fiero, thought the little mid-engine Pontiac had a superstructure made of steel.

More photos here.

Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, a realistic perspective on cars & car culture and the original 3D car site. If you found this post worthwhile, you can get a parallax view at Cars In Depth. If the 3D thing freaks you out, don’t worry, all the photo and video players in use at the site have mono options. Thanks for reading – RJS