Body
[A/H] The body of the NSX is made out of 3 different kinds of "exotic" (to the auto industry) aluminum: The cosmetic outer panels are made of a 6083 T4. The temper comes from the heat dry paint process cooling slowly. The frame is a 5182, and the side sill (rocker) is an extruded 6061 T6. The suspension pieces are forged 6061 T6, the wheels are forged, I don’t know the recipe.
The dies used to put the shape in the hood have to be polished every few stampings just to keep them clean so the aluminum does not gall, grab or stick to the die. Same is true for the fenders, doors, etc. You drive a car that may be more exotic than you think.
[FG] There are two small 2" square steel rub plates under the front bumper. The 95+ bumper beams are also Aluminum (mainly to make up for the added weight on the T’s). However, it seems that the coupes also got some of the same reinforcements as the T (like the rear strut tie bar and I think the thicker door sills). According to an Autoweek 12-7-92 article on the R, the "front fender reinforcement structure" is alum for the R saving 19.4 lbs over the standard model. The R bumper beams are alum also instead of steel. I recall the stock strut support being steel, the C-tech unit is about � lb heavier. If one visits the track often, I’m not sure I would see it as an "ego" item.
Engine
Reducing reciprocating mass allows increased engine speed, reduced crankshaft stress, and/or a lighter crankshaft, and generation of less noise, vibration, and sideways thrust on pistons. In the NSX, titanium is said to give a 700 rpm increase in engine speed over steel connecting rods, a 30 per cent reduction in weight and enhanced fatigue resistance. The alloy developed in Japan for this application is a free machining alloy with three per cent aluminium and 2.5 per cent vanadium.
Accessories
[AW] That little "button" between the two defroster vents way up front just short of the front edge of the windshield is a ~1/2" circular sensor which determines whether the sun is shining, in order to help the climate control in its operation.
Paint
[BCH] The NSX uses a "4-coat, 4-bake" process. The layers (from top to bottom) are: Clear coat, Base coat, 2nd color-primer, 1st color-primer, Electro-deposition coat, Chromate coat, Bare aluminum.
These are applied in the following 27-step process (from start to finish): degrease / water rinse / chromate coat / water rinse / air dry / electro-deposition coat / water rinse / bake /anti-moisture sealant / anti-corrosion undercoat / bake / anti-chipping primer / first color-primer / bake / hand wet-sanding / forced-air dry / second color-primer /bake / base coat / forced air blow off / clear coat / bake / roof painting / flash-off / clear coat / bake / anti-corrosion hot wax injection / final assembly
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