2012 Acura NSX Roadster
By Lorenzo Bianchi August 13, 2012
The 2012 Acura NSX Roadster shows was built from a first-generation NSX, tailored for The Avengers film’s filmic flair.
Its body was hand-crafted in resin and fiberglass, including a 2-inch drop, 18-inch wheels, and a widened stance.
It remains fully functional, complete with its original V6 and standard cockpit—designed to drive, not just display.
A Superhero Ride That Still Drives
The 2012 Acura NSX Roadster doesn’t come across as a pampered show car. In the photos, it still carries the sort of stride that says “sports car under the skin,” no matter the cinematic fantasies attached. The drop is subtle, intentionally understated. The windshield frame sits just low enough to remind you it was built for film stunts, not sculptures. It’s a drifting memory in metal—or, since, resin.
Lined with Hollywood flair, the body was once a fibreglass sculpture. Now it’s a glossy, human-scaled piece of history. The 2-inch suspension drop gives it a slightly slouching posture, while the 18-inch wheels fill the arches without going too wide. The paint still reflects studio fuzz—Tony Stark red though it is—and the NSX shape clings to the underlying donor car's geometry instead of overt design exaggeration.
How It Handles in Real Life
This roadster isn’t just a mockup that looks fast. Behind the panels sits a fully functional 3.0-liter V6 from the original NSX, complete with everything Honda built into the cockpit back then. There’s rumour that Acura insisted on reliability as a core principle for filming, so the brakes, engine, and transmission were left largely in their original configurations. Driving photos of it—mostly parking-lot clips—suggest the car handles normally, if at a slower clip than its looks imply.
Movie Star Meets Automotive Icon
In the era of hyper-spoilers and digital doubles, there’s something unexpected about a hand-crafted, drivable movie prop. The design team in L.A. set out to invoke the 2012 NSX Concept, but they did it with the tools of a car restorer—not a CGI artist. That unsabotaged NSX performance pedigree is still under there. It’s not revving to celebrity; it’s just holding up in traffic as a screen-used roadster.
Where It Stands in the Auto World
There isn’t a production rival. It’s less exotic than, say, the 918 Spyder but more tangible. More physical. If Ferrari made a superhero cameo vehicle today it’d still need to be rigged for safety specs. In contrast, this NSX was driven. That makes it rare in a quiet way.
Technical Specification
Performance
- Engine: 3.0-litre V6 (Honda C30A, original 1991 donor)
- Output: 270 hp (201 kW)
- Torque: 285 N·m (210 lb-ft)
Body Measurements
- Length: same as 1991 NSX coupe (approx. 4,405 mm / 173 in)
- Width: same as original NSX (~1,810 mm / 71.3 in)
- Height: same as original (~1,170 mm / 46.1 in)
- Ride height: lowered by ~50 mm (2 inches) for a lower stance
Powertrain
- Based on a 1991 Acura NSX donor car; retains original mechanical setup
- Transmission: five-speed manual (unchanged)
- Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Capacities & Features
- Seating: two-seat roadster layout
- Body: hand-crafted in resin and fiberglass
- Tires and Wheels: 18-inch wheels with wider-than-stock Hankook tires
- Interior: retains factory cockpit with minimal modifications, including Procar seats and red-painted console
- Unique styling: Larger, steeper windshield frame; open-top configuration with custom LED taillights
Price/Value
- Base NSX donor car was acquired for approximately US $18,000–20,000