Page 41 - Motor Trend (April 2020)

2020 Polestar 1 COMPARISON

Front-engine, AWD

Turbo- & s’charged I-4, alum block/head,
plus 1 front/2 rear electric motors

DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
120.2 cu in/1,969 cc
10.3:1

326 hp @ 6,000 rpm (gas), 71 hp (front elec),
2 x 114 hp (rear elec); 619 hp (comb)

384 lb-ft @ 2,600 rpm (gas), 119 lb-ft
(front elec), 2 x 177 lb-ft (rear elec);
738 lb-ft (comb)
6,500 rpm
8.3 lb/hp
the turbos taking over. Shifts from the
8-speed auto (front); 1-speed
auto (rear) close-ratio nine-speed gearbox snap off
instantly as the V-6 growls to its 7,500-
3.20:1/2.15:1 (front)
rpm redline, and the whole process
begins again. The end result is a tremen-
Control arms, coil springs, adj shocks,
anti-roll bar; multilink, transverse leaf dously powerful drivetrain that feels,
spring, adj shocks, anti-roll bar well, naturally aspirated.

15.6:1 Aside from the obvious acceleration
2.8 advantages, the NSX’s motors also make
15.7-in vented, drilled, 2-pc disc; 15.4-in it a better handler. Just as the Polestar’s
vented, drilled, 2-pc disc, ABS twin rear motors provide instant torque
vectoring, the Acura’s twin front motors a good model for others to follow as we
9.0 x 21-in; 10.0 x 21-in, forged aluminum
do the same, independently distributing enter a new decade and inch ever closer to
275/30R21 98W; 295/30R21 102W power through bends and helping give the an internal combustionless future.
Pirelli P Zero VOL NSX a disgusting amount of midcorner Sharp-eyed readers will notice that our
grip—providing the driver with a magnifi- order of finishing also matches the field’s
107.9 in cent amount of confidence while pushing escalation in as-tested price. That is coin-

64.8/65.2 in the car harder down a back road. cidental. Our grading in performance,
180.5 x 77.1 x 53.2 in Inside, the interior interfaces are drivability, and livability among our
37.4 ft beginning to look a bit dated compared to finishers was more about how well the
5,155 lb the Polestar’s Volvophile user experience, hybrid technology was applied than about
47/53% but ultimately it’s the NSX’s confi- optional features and benefits (though
4 dence-inspiring performance, combined the Lexus’ 50 grand discount from the
38.0/33.3 in with the engineering voodoo that turned rest of the field is indeed notable). In the
42.0/20.9 in the Acura’s four separate powerplants case of the NSX, however, the quality of
56.3/49.7 in into one cohesive team, that helped Team its hybrid technology easily distances it
4.4 cu ft Acura earn its redemption and victory. from the rest of the field.
On nearly every metric, both objective If you’d asked any one of us a decade
and subjective, the NSX outclasses the ago if an electrified sports car could ever
1.6/2.3 sec Polestar, BMW, and Lexus. It’s quicker, be as engaging as a gas-powered car, you’d
3.0/3.8 sharper, and sportier than its electrified have gotten a resounding no. (Call it the
4.7/5.8 rivals. Most important, it’s more fun to Prius factor.) But as the NSX, Polestar 1,

7.1/8.4 drive. Although the Acura is the least i8, and LC 500h prove, the future doesn’t
12.3/1.6 fuel-efficient car here, the NSX’s seamless have to be scary. Or boring. Q
powertrain integration ought to provide
12.0 sec @ 119.1 mph/102 ft
0.98 g (avg)/24.5 sec @ 0.83 g (avg)
1,400 rpm
ON NEARLY EVERY METRIC, THE ACURA NSX
OUTCLASSES THE COMPETITION.
$156,500/$156,500
Yes/Yes
7: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain,
driver knee
4 years/50,000 miles
4 years/50,000 miles;
8 years/100,000 miles
4 years/50,000 miles
15.9 gal/34 kW-hr
65 mpg-e (comb, est)
52 kW-hr/100 miles (comb, est)

0.30 lb/mile (comb, est)
APRIL 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 41
Unleaded premium, 240V electricity