Acura reveals NSX Total Airflow Management details
Acura engineers have detailed the NSX’s Total Airflow Management, explaining how the supercar’s aerodynamics were developed to balance cooling, downforce and drag.
Acura has outlined the thinking behind the NSX’s Total Airflow Management, describing how the supercar’s aerodynamics were developed using a combination of computer simulation and wind tunnel testing. The approach shaped the car’s bodywork to manage cooling, reduce drag and generate downforce, with production now under way for the new-generation NSX.
Acura’s engineering team, led by aerodynamics and cooling project leader Thomas Ramsay, started with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model airflow across the NSX’s body. These simulations allowed engineers to predict how changes to the car’s shape would affect aerodynamic performance and cooling. To verify the virtual results, 40 per cent scale models were tested in Honda’s Ohio wind tunnel, guiding changes to intakes, vents and body surfaces.
Aerodynamic priorities: cooling and downforce
The NSX’s hybrid powertrain and mid-mounted engine generated specific cooling challenges. Airflow was directed through carefully positioned intakes at the front and sides, feeding radiators, brakes and the engine bay. At the rear, a diffuser and integrated spoiler were developed to increase downforce, which is concentrated over the rear axle. Acura’s engineers determined that the NSX required approximately three times more downforce at the rear than the front to maintain stability at speed.
Bodywork elements such as the front splitter, side skirts and underbody panels were all refined to manage airflow efficiently. These features contribute to both cooling and aerodynamic stability, while minimising drag. The result is a supercar that balances the demands of a hybrid powertrain with the need for high-speed stability and effective heat management.
From simulation to production
The NSX’s aerodynamic development reflects the increasing reliance on advanced simulation tools in supercar engineering. With production now started, the first NSX sold for $1.2 million at auction, highlighting the interest in the new model. Acura’s approach demonstrates how digital and physical testing can be combined to meet the complex requirements of a modern hybrid supercar.
