While the motoring world is far away from the golden age of Japanese performance cars where brands offer enthusiast-oriented models at a variety of price points, there are still plenty of very potent machines coming from the country's automakers. As a case in point, Top Gear stages a drag race between the new Acura NSX, which carries Honda branding in the United Kingdom, against a Nissan GT-R. To put a thumb on the scales, this GT-R has extra tuning from the British tuner Litchfield.
More races with this pair:
The Acura comes to the race in factory stock form. Its twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 also has three electric motors, and the setup offers a total output of 573 bhp and 476 pound-feet running through a nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
In comparison, the Nissan GT-R comes stock with a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 making 565 bhp and 467 lb-ft that runs through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. However, the Litchfield tuning on this one boosts the output to 631 bhp and 600 lb-ft.
Gallery: 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo
While it has a power disadvantage, the NSX weighs slightly less at 3,915 pounds (1,776 kilograms), versus 3,968 pounds (1,800 kilograms) for the GT-R. Both of them have all-wheel drive, so traction shouldn't be a concern off the line.
At the start of the race, the NSX jumps off the line ahead of the GT-R, likely thanks to the Acura's instant torque from its electric motors. Watch the rest to see which model takes the victory.
Gallery: 2019 Acura NSX