New Acura NSX Races To The Clouds - The groundbreaking Acura NSX supercar will earn its racing stripes at the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado later this month.
Honda’s premium division brand will field three versions of the new NSX at the event, two based on the hybrid production car and one all-electric variant.
In its 100th year, the June 26 hill climb to the top of the 14,115ft mountain is a grueling high altitude test of race cars of different types.
Acura’s NSX production-based entries will compete in the Time Attack 1 and 2 classes. The NSX-inspired all electric prototype will compete in the Electric Modified Class. It will feature a further evolution of the experimental four electric motor powertrain that won its class at Pikes Peak last year.
“Pikes Peak is like no other race in the world and offers a unique opportunity to showcase the power and performance of our products,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura Division.
The production-based NSX racecars share the same mid-mounted twin-turbo V6 engine mated to a 9-speed dual clutch transmission and electric motor, plus two electric motors powering the front wheels.
Modifications to the NSX competing in the Time Attack 1 class included chassis lightening and a custom high-flow racing exhaust. The NSX competing in the Time Attack 2 class is a production car with the required safety equipment for competition.
The 2017 NSX recently went on sale starting at $156,000. Its hybrid powertrain develops a total of 573-hp for 0-60 mph acceleration under three seconds and a top speed around 190 mph.