The 2017 Honda NSX is finally in production, and it didn't take long for Honda America, namely Acura to take it into motorsports.
A contender for the 2016 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the Acura EV Concept is a mountain attack machine designed to compete in the only race in America almost three miles above sea level.
Equipped with full-electric four-motor'd setup, it is basically an NSX body dropped on top of the CR-Z electric prototype race car that Honda had participated in last year's event, which won the Exhibition Class in a blistering time of 10:23.829.
The idea behind putting individual electric motor to each wheel is mainly to maximize torque vectoring, meaning that the car should be able to apply the optimum traction at any given wheel at the right time.
The company states, "By applying separate Twin Motor Units (TMUs), the brains of Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, on each axle, Acura has achieved independent torque distribution to all four corners – true four-wheel torque vectoring. Based upon the learnings from last year’s race, the team updated the system management of the powertrain for more precise thrust at each wheel."
Electric power is still relatively new to Pikes Peak, but is actually ideal for the
conditions; thinner air, high altitude. As the gasoline engine needs air and fuel to run, a naturally-aspirated unit would already be choking at the starting line, and even turbocharged cars tend to get high-pitched towards the top.
But it is not the case with electric power, it just goes and goes.
While Acura currently have two other NSX racer competing in Time Attack 1 and 2 classes, the four-motor EV will run in the Electric Modified Class, unlike the Exhibition Class participated by the original car under the EV NSX body.
The 2016 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, will be in action on June 26.
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