Corvette E-Ray vs Acura NSX Type S Comparison Shows Us Why Some Sports Cars Fail

Both the Corvette E-Ray and Acura NSX are mid-engine, hybrid sports cars, but why is one a success thus far, while the other was a massive failure?

Without a doubt, the first-generation Acura NSX was an undeniable hit, a pure sports car that was stylish, fun to drive, and perhaps most notably, reliable – something that most of its competition was, well, not. Thus, most expected the newest Acura NSX to follow in those footsteps, as it arrived with the promise of more performance. That wasn’t the case, and the new NSX Type S marks the discontinuation of what was largely a failure, at least in part due to its electrified powertrain and the weight it added. And this sparked a pretty fascinating debate – why is it that the also mid-engine hybrid C8 Corvette E-Ray viewed in a very different light?

That’s precisely the question that this in-depth video from Savage Geese works to answer, starting with a bit of history on the NSX itself. As most remember, expectations for the second-generation of that beloved model were sky high, which put Honda at a disadvantage from the start. Engineers had roughly five years to build something they had never done before, and from the get-go, the automaker only planned on making one generation of this model – meaning that they had to get it right the first time.

Ultimately, those engineers did a fantastic job, by all accounts – the newer NSX is comfortable, its hybrid system works seamlessly, and it offers up plenty of performance, but there were just a couple of problems. For starters, the NSX was quite expensive at $200k or so, and secondly, it was a bit too calm and comfortable – a major turnoff for sports car fans, in general, who enjoy the thrill of driving such machines. Ultimately, it simply didn’t conjure up the same emotions as the original, which is what made that car special to begin with.

Enter the Corvette E-Ray – while we knew for years that a hybrid Corvette was in the works, it’s also just a mere model in a lineup that also offers a pair of naturally-aspirated V8s. GM wasn’t necessarily under any pressure to speed up the development of the E-Ray, nor were there prior, lofty expectations in place for what it would represent. GM ultimately decided that the Corvette E-Ray would occupy a very specific place in the lineup – as a comfortable grand touring machine with all-weather capability, and yet, also blistering performance.

The Corvette E-Ray wasn’t developed to be some sort of fuel sipping machine, but rather, one that harnesses electricity with one intention – to provide more performance. It’s also significantly cheaper than the NSX – over $50k, in fact, making it more attainable for a broader base of consumers. Ultimately, both cars are satisfying to drive – as we can see in this comparison – and also offer up lots of performance, but we’re more fascinated by the fact that two very similar machines could face such different fates in the marketplace.

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