These two bodacious-in-black supercars are very similar, yet very different at the same time. The Acura NSX and Audi R8 V10 Plus both have all-wheel-drive, both feature a gasoline engine behind the driver, they have in the neighborhood of 600 hp, and in this instance, each walks on the dark side of the force with a sinister combination of black paint with black wheels.
The source of their power, however, is vastly different. The Audi is a Lamborghini in a German suit, wielding a naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10 good for 602 horsepower (449 kilowatts). Meanwhile, the NSX combines a twin-turbocharged V6 and three electric motors for a hybridized 573 hp (427 kW), but the added tech also adds weight, making it slightly heavier than the Audi. It’s also a little down on power from the R8, which makes it the underdog in this challenge.
Track Day took these supercars to a runway for three side-by-side races, including two standing starts to make full use of the all-wheel-drive grip. Despite having a disadvantage in both weight and power, the NSX shows exceptional poise off the line and manages to garner a slight advantage at the start. A single roll race from 30 to 145 mph sees the Audi punch the throttle a bit early, and with more power under the engine cover, the V10 roars away from hybrid V6.
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So the real question is whether the NSX and it’s hybrid wizardry can hold off the old-school Audi with its high-revving V10 from a standing start. The instant-on torque of electric power clearly gives the NSX an advantage at launch, but less weight with more power clearly benefits the R8 when moving. In short, this is a very good matchup of competitive mid-engine machines, but there is a clear winner at the end of the day. We’ll save the final outcome of this supercar battle for the video.