My own personal experience and respect for Acura came in 1990. Covering the auto business Acura debuted of the groundbreaking NSX. This mid-engine sports car that would establish new levels of performance, refinement and drive-ability at a relatively inexpensive price compared to, oh, Ferrari and Porsche. I remembered a conversation with the esteemed and estimable John Dinkel of Road&Track who I had known years before I joined the magazine as its Detroit editor. Having gone to Japan to drive the car prior to its introduction, John – when I asked about it – just shook his head and said “they are going to own the world.” This opinion was not contested among the entire R&T staff as I recall. Ferrari performance, Japanese quality and an undervalued price.

NSX was engineered with input from Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna, NSX had the first mass-produced aluminum monocoque body for a production vehicle, titanium connecting rods and the first application of variable valve timing and lift with its innovative and new VTEC® valvetrain system.

The Acura “caliper” badge also appeared for the first time on the NSX. The “A” mark was designed to represent the Acura brand name, while signifying the “precision” with which Acura products were made through a design motif representing a set of mechanical calipers.