2005 Acura NSX
 

$89,000

Baja 405
 By Jeanne Craig
from
$277,000

The Acura NSX supercar exemplifies the precision crafted performance that lies at the heart of every Acura vehicle. Developed out of years of racing experience, the NSX sets the benchmark for Acura technology, combining world-class performance and styling with exceptional drivability and refinement.

The Acura NSX offers two distinct, mid-ship mounted powertrains. The first is a lightweight, all-aluminum 3.2 liter, DOHC, 24-valve, 90-degree V-6 engine coupled with a 6-speed, close-ratio manual transmission producing 290 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque. The second is a 3.0 liter DOHC, 24-valve V-6 engine with a 4-speed Sequential SportShift automatic transmission that generates 252 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torquehem.

Both Acura NSX engines are equipped with Acura's patented VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control), a Variable Volume Induction System, direct ignition and a computerized Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system pioneered in Formula One racing. The NSX engine also features titanium connecting rods, which are stronger and lighter than comparable steel connecting rods.

To complement these innovative powertrains, the Acura NSX chassis features an all-aluminum unit body construction that is 40 percent lighter, yet has the rigidity of a steel structure. The 4-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension features aluminum-alloy control arms and hub carriers that minimize unsprung weight and provide optimum handling. The suspension also features aluminum subframes for the front and rear suspension to further reduce weight. Forged-aluminum alloy wheels reduce unsprung weight while super high performance tires - 215/40 R17 in front and 255/40 R17 in the rear - provide maximum traction and handling.....More>>>>

Baja blends a cruising-friendly layout with a performance hull on its new 405.

It was one of those "gotta get a life" moments. I was neatly tucked into a McLeod electric bolster seat with one hand on the split throttle controls, the other on the wheel. When the needle on the speedo kissed 60 and someone in the cockpit let out a whoop, I wondered why in the heck I spend all my weekends on a little cruiser tooting around the local haunts at a conservative pace a sailor could love. As we raced along at a breath-stealing clip, I consoled myself with the idea that most boats built for speed are rarely run at full throttle. So, when the new 405 came off plane and the gears were put in neutral, I turned to Dean Reynolds of Baja and asked him how many owners of this brand actually drive their boats at wide-open on a regular basis. "All of them," he said.

Performance is at the heart of every Baja boat, including the 405. The new flagship of the builder's lineup, it replaces the popular .38 Special, which had been dubbed "old faithful" by some at the company for having spent 15 long years in production. Like that model, the new 405 is a hybrid, a performance machine with a cruising-friendly layout; this boat sleeps four inside and seats six in the cockpit. Baja's latest also incorporates some features and technology that were barely on the boating horizon back in 1992, from composite construction materials to flat-screen TVs.

Like all Bajas, this one is based on an aggressive deep-V hull with 24 degrees of deadrise at the transom. In fact, this builder has been steadfastly loyal to this design, even as many of its fast-paced competitors (Fountain, among them) have embraced stepped hulls. Baja's experiences in Factory 2-class offshore racing have helped shape its design philosophy. In this division, boats are powered by the same engines, so the hull and the crew are crucial factors for success.  . . . . . . . . .More>>>