Acura has unveiled the new four-motor, EV concept ahead of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Set to compete in the Electric Modified Class, the race car draws inspiration from the NSX and will be driven Tetsuya Yamano who competed in last year's event behind the wheel of a CR-Z-based electric prototype.
On the styling front, the EV concept wears a modified NSX body and an aerodynamic body kit that includes a front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a prominent wing. The car also has a ventilated rear fascia, lightweight windows, and lightweight wheels with high-performance Michelin tires.
Power is provided by two Twin Motor Units which are located on each axle. Acura describes this setup as the "ultimate embodiment of the all-wheel-drive Electric SH-AWD powertrain" as it allows independent torque distribution at all four corners. The company went on to say this makes the model one of the first to have "true four-wheel torque vectoring."
The Japanese automaker was tight-lipped on performance specifications but promised the EV concept will have three times the total system output of last year's electric prototype.
In a statement, Yamano said "We've been tuning the car for several weeks at Pikes and have advanced its performance significantly." He added, "We're honored to be running at Pikes in this historical, anniversary year – an event respected by racing fans all over the world."
Source: Acura
Gallery: Acura EV Concept
Acura NSX-Inspired EV Concept Ready to 'Charge Up' Pikes Peak
Vehicle Features World’s First All-Electric, 4-Motor SH-AWD® Powertrain
TORRANCE, Calif. – Acura will campaign an all-electric, NSX-inspired EV Concept in the Electric Modified Class at the 2016 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The Acura EV Concept features a further evolution of the experimental, all-electric, 4-motor Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) powertrain that won last year's Pikes Peak Challenge Exhibition class.
The supercar-inspired Acura EV Concept will be driven by Tetsuya Yamano, who campaigned last year's CR-Z-based electric prototype. The Acura EV Concept is the ultimate embodiment of the all-wheel-drive Electric SH-AWD powertrain featuring a world's first technology that enables four-wheel independent torque allocation. The Acura EV Concept's Electric SH-AWD powertrain produces three times the total system output of last year's electric prototype and is mated to the NSX body.
"We've been tuning the car for several weeks at Pikes and have advanced its performance significantly," said Tetsuya Yamano. "We're honored to be running at Pikes in this historical, anniversary year – an event respected by racing fans all over the world."
4-Motor Development
Honda R&D has been developing "super handling" technology for more than 20 years in the pursuit of ideal vehicle handling. 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.
Acura's unique Sport Hybrid SH-AWD technology utilizes the highly responsive acceleration characteristics and regeneration capability of electric motors to further advance the torque vectoring systems currently applied to NSX, and available on RLX and the upcoming 2017 MDX. The system enables ideal handling characteristics in various driving situations by coordinating and managing all dynamic systems, including Electronic Power Steering (EPS), Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.
With its high-output electric motors and 4-motor torque vectoring, the Concept is well suited to the demands of the 156 complex corners the driver will encounter on the drive up Pikes Peak.