*cute the torches and pitchforks*
The second generation NSX. Honda had a chance to capture the magic and completely fumbled it. The original NSX was popular because it out-perform cars twice its MSRP while being able to start up every time. It was simple, reliable, and could out class the best from Europe (it forced Ferrari to build the 355)!
The second generation NSX, I feel, Honda got lazy and just decided to throw the hypercar formula at it: turbocharged, awd, and hybrid. While I have no problem with that formula, it did not work on the NSX (Honda even billed it as the ‘every day supercar’). What Honda should have done with the second generation NSX is completely remove the hybrid system, keep it RWD only, and keep hydraulic brakes (instead of brake-by-wire). That would have not only significantly reduced cost and weight, but it would have been just as powerful for its class (the 3.5 TT alone made 500hp). Which reminds me, with the hybrid system, combined output was only 573. At the time, you could get a C7 Z06 with 650 hp for about 50k less. Hell, the McLaren 570s was a better NSX than the NSX.
While I would have liked to see NA + manual transmission, I feel Honda should have kept the NSX simple: rwd, and ICE only. RWD and ICE only, I think the NSX would have costed 30-40k less. That would have brought it back to its roots. I have no problem with the design. I think it looks great. Instead, they tried to copy the hypercar formula and the car became too complicated and bloated. Which caused it to have an MSRP that some people could not justify. Spend about 20k more for the McLaren 570s and get a better NSX than the NSX.
I totally agree with ya, Dano, and I don’t think your answer will be met with many pitchforks, honestly. The original NSX was a perfect storm that had a special je ne sais quoi about it that just worked. It was helped by the fact that its competitors were still resting on their laurels when the NSX first pounced, the second-gen car was introduced to a very different world than the first.