acura adapts their NSX into high-performance electric concept to tackle pikes peak race

acura adapts their NSX into high-performance electric concept to tackle pikes peak race

acura will campaign an all-electric, ‘NSX EV concept’ in the electric modified class at the 2016 broadmoor pikes peak international hill climb.  it features a further evolution of the experimental, all-electric, 4-motor ‘super handling all-wheel drive’ powertrain that won last year’s pikes peak challenge exhibition class.

inside the cabin of the electric supercar previewed at our interview with john norman,  will be tetsuya yamano, who campaigned last year’s ‘CR-Z-based’ electric prototype.  the concept car is the ultimate embodiment of the all-wheel-drive electric ‘SH-AWD’ powertrain featuring technology that enables four-wheel independent torque allocation.  the sustainable supercar’s electric powertrain produces three times the total system output of last year’s electric prototype and is mated to the ‘NSX’ body, that we discussed during our interview with michelle christensen.

‘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.’

honda’s research and development has been working with ‘super handling’ technology for more than 20 years in the pursuit of ideal vehicle handling. by applying separate twin motor units powering each wheel on the front axle, the intelligent sport hybrid ‘SH-AWD’, 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 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, vehicle stability assist and sport hybrid SH-AWD.

with its high-output electric motors and four-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.