What's NSX?

PITSTOP

The axe has finally fallen. After 15 years as Japan's finest sportscar, Honda is finally pulling the plug on its NSX. The mid-engined Ferrari challenger and Japan's first real supercar first burst on to the motoring scene in 1990.

The NSX was co-developed by Honda engineers along with the legendary Formula 1 driver, Ayrton Senna. Even though the NSX always had the makings of a proper super car "" a mid-engined V6, rear-wheel drive, all aluminium body, looks to rival cars from the prancing horse stable "" it was never really considered one.

Partly because of the badge and partly because it was almost too perfect. The NSX came with all the practicality of a daily run-about, something that was actually looked down upon by the purists. Yet it had its own fan following. Since its launch, over 18,000 cars were sold.

Honda is currently said to be working on a successor, that could be based on the Honda HSC "" the concept car that debuted at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. Despite this, the NSX will be missed and remembered as a perfect example of a car that was too good for its own good.

Tyre mark

India's largest tyre maker has just completed a major landmark in the industry. Raghupati Singhania (in the photograph), CEO and MD of JK Tyre, was present as the pioneers of radials in India rolled out their millionth truck/bus radial tyre from their Mysore plant.

Simultaneously, to go with the tremendous growth expected in the automobile sector, JK Tyre is investing another Rs 60 crore in the plant.

With this investment, JK Tyre hopes to take the per-day production from 750 tyres to 1,000. JK Tyre currently enjoys a 85 per cent market share in truck radials and hopes that this move will help them further.