Page 4 - WING May-Jun 2016
P. 4
Cover STORY
Get on Your Feet
for NSX Lineoff
I t was a pinnacle event for a pinnacle product. In late May, The tension mounted as the team waited for the big unveiling of VIN 001.
the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) was home to
a much anticipated event – lineoff for the 2017 Acura NSX.
To bring the car out, engineering large project leader, Clement D’Souza,
To get the party started, project team members made an Olympic- who led the creation of the PMC, took the stage to a standing ovation
from the team.
style entrance to the event area packed with guests from the com-
munity, leadership and media. In his heartfelt remarks, D’Souza acknowledged some of the chal-
lenges in launching the car, saying that more than anything the team
Honda of America Mfg. (HAM) President and CEO, Tomo Kosaka, had the best time together.
addressed the crowd talking about the importance of the NSX to HAM.
“Even though it was difficult, we were writing the story of our life-
“Our operations here in Ohio are global leaders for other Honda plants times and realizing a dream together,” he said.
around the world,” he said. “The innovations here at PMC and in Anna’s
NSX engine build room are a testament to our global leadership.” “No matter what the difficulty was there was no “quit” in this team.
Every time there was an issue they found another gear in their heart.”
Kosaka said he was involved in the previous generation NSX which
was built at Honda’s Takanezawa plant in Japan. Special guest, Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and
chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group was in attendance for the
“I know what it is like to be an NSX team member….I am inspired to event and to accept VIN 001. He purchased the first unit for a $1.2
see the same excitement I once felt…. in your eyes today.” million dollar charitable donation at the Barrett-Jackson auction in
Scottsdale, Arizona back in January.
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor spoke about the significance
of the NSX “firsts” for the State of Ohio, highlighting that this is the Hendrick drove his Valencia Red Pearl Acura NSX with exclusive
first time a supercar has been designed, developed and manufac- interwoven wheels, carbon ceramic brake rotors, leather and
tured in the U.S. Alcantara interior trim and carbon fiber upgrades off the line.
Special guest speakers also included Vice President and General “I remember Christmas when I was 10 years old,” Hendrick said.
Manager of the Acura Division, Jon Ikeda and NSX Large Project “This is pretty close to that, except I have a lot more people watching
Leader, Ted Klaus. me.”
4 WING May/June 2016
Get on Your Feet
for NSX Lineoff
I t was a pinnacle event for a pinnacle product. In late May, The tension mounted as the team waited for the big unveiling of VIN 001.
the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) was home to
a much anticipated event – lineoff for the 2017 Acura NSX.
To bring the car out, engineering large project leader, Clement D’Souza,
To get the party started, project team members made an Olympic- who led the creation of the PMC, took the stage to a standing ovation
from the team.
style entrance to the event area packed with guests from the com-
munity, leadership and media. In his heartfelt remarks, D’Souza acknowledged some of the chal-
lenges in launching the car, saying that more than anything the team
Honda of America Mfg. (HAM) President and CEO, Tomo Kosaka, had the best time together.
addressed the crowd talking about the importance of the NSX to HAM.
“Even though it was difficult, we were writing the story of our life-
“Our operations here in Ohio are global leaders for other Honda plants times and realizing a dream together,” he said.
around the world,” he said. “The innovations here at PMC and in Anna’s
NSX engine build room are a testament to our global leadership.” “No matter what the difficulty was there was no “quit” in this team.
Every time there was an issue they found another gear in their heart.”
Kosaka said he was involved in the previous generation NSX which
was built at Honda’s Takanezawa plant in Japan. Special guest, Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and
chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group was in attendance for the
“I know what it is like to be an NSX team member….I am inspired to event and to accept VIN 001. He purchased the first unit for a $1.2
see the same excitement I once felt…. in your eyes today.” million dollar charitable donation at the Barrett-Jackson auction in
Scottsdale, Arizona back in January.
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor spoke about the significance
of the NSX “firsts” for the State of Ohio, highlighting that this is the Hendrick drove his Valencia Red Pearl Acura NSX with exclusive
first time a supercar has been designed, developed and manufac- interwoven wheels, carbon ceramic brake rotors, leather and
tured in the U.S. Alcantara interior trim and carbon fiber upgrades off the line.
Special guest speakers also included Vice President and General “I remember Christmas when I was 10 years old,” Hendrick said.
Manager of the Acura Division, Jon Ikeda and NSX Large Project “This is pretty close to that, except I have a lot more people watching
Leader, Ted Klaus. me.”
4 WING May/June 2016
