Photo: Acura
To be king of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, you need a serious machine to get to the summit. Acura, for example, has accepted the challenge and the manufacturer’s weapon of choice is an extremely special NSX supercar. It’s so special that it isn’t even called like its road-going kindred. Ladies and gents, put your hands together for the EV Concept.
“The what now?” I know, right? I completely agree that Acura EV Concept is the daftest name one could bestow upon such an aggressive-looking racing car, yet the luxury division of Honda is rather notorious for its lack of inspiration. If you’re able to ignore the dime-a-dozen nameplate, then we can get down to business.
According to Acura, the EV Concept is propelled by an evolution of the 4-motor Electric SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive) powertrain that enabled Honda to conquer Pikes Peak with a modified CR-Z in 2015. With Tetsuya Yamano behind the steering wheel, the predecessor of the EV Concept finished the hill climb in just 10:23.829. Although Acura is unjustifiably tight-lipped on the juiciest of details, we’re told that the EV Concept has three times the total system output of its predecessor. How much is that? Hell knows.
Tetsuya Yamano will try to tame this bad boy on the 12.42-mile course on June 26, 2016, and, from what I understand, the Acura team is off to a rather good start. "We've been tuning the car for several weeks at Pikes and have advanced its performance significantly," declared Tetsuya. "We're honored to be running at Pikes in this historical, anniversary year – an event respected by racing fans all over the world," the racing driver added.
Honda placed the CR-Z first in the Exhibition Class last year, but will Acura mirror that feat in 2016 with the EV Concept in the Electric Modified Class? It’s a tough call, I’ll give you that. The car and man Acura and Tetsuya have to beat are the Drive e0 and Rhys Millen, a combo that hold the class record (9:07.222). The autoevolution team is keeping all of its fingers crossed so that Lady Luck will smile upon the Acura team.
In related news, Blake Fuller and his Tesla Model S P90D are on a mission in the Electric Production class.
According to Acura, the EV Concept is propelled by an evolution of the 4-motor Electric SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive) powertrain that enabled Honda to conquer Pikes Peak with a modified CR-Z in 2015. With Tetsuya Yamano behind the steering wheel, the predecessor of the EV Concept finished the hill climb in just 10:23.829. Although Acura is unjustifiably tight-lipped on the juiciest of details, we’re told that the EV Concept has three times the total system output of its predecessor. How much is that? Hell knows.
Tetsuya Yamano will try to tame this bad boy on the 12.42-mile course on June 26, 2016, and, from what I understand, the Acura team is off to a rather good start. "We've been tuning the car for several weeks at Pikes and have advanced its performance significantly," declared Tetsuya. "We're honored to be running at Pikes in this historical, anniversary year – an event respected by racing fans all over the world," the racing driver added.
Honda placed the CR-Z first in the Exhibition Class last year, but will Acura mirror that feat in 2016 with the EV Concept in the Electric Modified Class? It’s a tough call, I’ll give you that. The car and man Acura and Tetsuya have to beat are the Drive e0 and Rhys Millen, a combo that hold the class record (9:07.222). The autoevolution team is keeping all of its fingers crossed so that Lady Luck will smile upon the Acura team.
In related news, Blake Fuller and his Tesla Model S P90D are on a mission in the Electric Production class.
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