Honda NSX Type R '02 vs Lotus Esprit V8 '02

[MidFieldMaven]

Which is the mid-engine king of Suzuka Circuit?

Both 100% stock, with the Esprit detuned to 350 hp from 353 hp.

2:17.739 - Honda NSX Type R '02 [P]
2:18.822 - Lotus Esprit V8 '02 [P]

Honda
3.2L
290 hp / 7,100 rpm
237 ft-lb / 5,500 rpm
1,270 kg
468 pp

Lotus
3.5L
350 hp / 7,000 rpm
295 ft-lb / 4,500 rpm
1,380 kg
481 pp

This might be a little one-sided because the Type R is a rare model while the Esprit V8 is much more "common" so let's throw in something more comparable...

2:16.436 - Lotus Esprit Sport 350 '00

3.5L
350 hp / 7,000 rpm
295 ft-lb / 4,500 rpm
1,300 kg
492 pp

There, that ought to shut the NSX up

 

[colj00]

nice comparison, couldn't chose 2 cars that were closer together.

 

[t_wilson01]

I wonder what the NSX would do at 350hp/1300kg, just for the sake of it.

 

[MidFieldMaven]

Probably be faster than the Lotus, but I am curious now...

 

[CTznOfTime]

Nice comparo !

 

[Griffith500]

I don't know why this match-up hadn't occurred to me before, nice idea!
It helps that I'm a massive fan of both cars.

 

[CeeJay]

Man that NSX Type R is a beast

 

[t_wilson01]

I'm really impressed by how much faster the Esprit Sports 350 is than the Esprit V8.

 

[MidFieldMaven]

Yeah it's over 2 seconds faster! That's what being 175 lbs lighter and having a big wing on the back will do.

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EModels/350.html

Apparently only 8 examples were shipped over to the USA out of 50 total.

 

[Not_A_Guest]

Well the Sport 350 is a purpose built homoglation special... The Type R was still a mass production car.

I'd like to go on, but it really doesn't mean much. Judging by the leaderboard at
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/ultimate-list-of-suzuka-lap-times-for-over-600-cars.314470/
the NSX Type R is very underrated by the PP system. It beats the XKR-S, and that's got 65 more PP!

 

[MidFieldMaven]

XKR-S weighs 540 kg more than the NSX-R. That's about 1,200 lbs. It's a pig! A fast pig, but still a pig.

 

[Not_A_Guest]

XKR-S weighs 540 kg more than the NSX-R. That's about 1,200 lbs. It's a pig! A fast pig, but still a pig.

That's true. But I do expect the extra 242 horsepower and a million lb-ft of torque to go SOMEWHERE.

 

[Aphelion]

but on paper, the 350 is faster, as well as on the track... so yeah, what happens if you up the power of the nsx?

 

[MidFieldMaven]

I'm not interested in testing modified cars, so unless someone else does it, we'll never know lol

 

[Not_A_Guest]

I'm not interested in testing modified cars, so unless someone else does it, we'll never know lol

I do believe that with over 10,000 mi/ 16,000 km on Suzuka, you are more qualified to test cars there than anyone else on GTPlanet. Please, pretty please?

 

[Griffith500]

Yeah it's over 2 seconds faster! That's what being 175 lbs lighter and having a big wing on the back will do.

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EModels/350.html

Apparently only 8 examples were shipped over to the USA out of 50 total.

And the NSX-R is so fast primarily because of all the downforce it has; I have no idea how downforce is factored into the PP calculation, though.

 

[Not_A_Guest]

And the NSX-R is so fast primarily because of all the downforce it has; I have no idea how downforce is factored into the PP calculation, though.

It had the same PP rating as in GT5, IIRC. And back in GT5 downforce played a pretty big role in PP calculation.
In GT6, adjustable downforce levels don't affect PP AT ALL IIRC. So I wonder why it still has the same PP rating...

It's probably just PD being PD.