Thứ Hai, 20 tháng 6, 2016
Earlier this month, Acura announced it was taking three versions of its NSX supercar to the 100th running of the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in Colorado. In that same announcement, the Japanese luxury automaker revealed that one of the NSX model's in the infamous race is an all-electric, four-motor, all-wheel drive concept. This morning, however, Acura gave us a more detailed look under the hood of the sleek electric supercar. Acura EV Concept Image: Wieck Unlike other all-wheel drive performance electric vehicles on sale today, like Tesla's Model S P90D, the NSX concept features not two electric motors, but four — one for each wheel. With a dedicated motor at each corner, the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system can precisely tailor the torque applied to each wheel. This allows each wheel to behave independently, which will further improve performance and handling. How, exactly, does that work? Electric motors can apply either positive torque for forward movement or negative torque to slow the wheel much faster than a traditional drivetrain, all-wheel drive or otherwise. That means the NSX concept should be able to corner and accelerate not only better than a mechanical all-wheel drive car, but also a one- or two-motor EV. Acura EV Concept Image: Wieck There is more at stake than simply winning a race. With this kind of technological step forward, Acura inches closer to a production version of its four-motor Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system — something that could make consumer EVs safer and more efficient.
Thứ Năm, 9 tháng 6, 2016
Turns out, the Acura NSX has a few other tricks up its sleeve. Acura revealed Thursday morning that it is going racing with two of its all-new NSX hybrid supercars at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb later this month. What's more, the Japanese luxury automaker also made public it has created an all-electric, four-motor, super-handling all-wheel drive (SH-AWD) version of the NSX that will, too, be competing at Pikes Peak. Acura NSX Time Attack 1 and 2 Vehicles Image: Wieck The 'standard' NSXs will compete in the Time Attack classes on the infamous 14,115-foot hillclimb race. The all-electric NSX concept will instead run in the Electric Modified Class. With four electric motors, one turning each wheel, allowing for 100% torque delivery off the line, the thing should be blisteringly quick. Notably, Acura's parent brand, Honda, entered the Electric Modified Class last year with another four-motor all-wheel drive concept, the CR-Z prototype, which made our '5 coolest EVs in the world' list. The Honda CR-Z prototype on Pikes Peak Hillclimb. Image: Honda Although we don't yet know how the four-motor NSX will fare, we can only presume it'll manage as well — if not better — than its CR-Z predecessor. Impressively, the CR-Z prototype was so quick, it was just one minute shy of taking the overall fastest time on the hill in 2015. So, if you're keen to see how the NSX performs, you'll have to check back on June 26 when the 100th Pikes Peak International Hillclimb kicks off. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
