Friday 10th June 2016

NSXs at Pikes Peak!

100th running of the hillclimb sees modified Acura NSXs 'race to the clouds'

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What with Le Mans, Goodwood and the European Grand Prix this month, it's easy to forget that June also plays host to Pikes Peak as well. Perhaps it isn't quite the same spectacle it once was - in with the Climb Dance clip before you - but hillclimbing on an American scale still appeals, even with the route fully tarmac.

Can we have gold wheels as an option?

There's additional intrigue this year with Honda - sorry, Acura - competing in the Time Attack 1 and 2 classes with a pair of modified NSXs. There will also be the '4-Motor EV Concept' in the Electric Modified Class; inspired by the NSX and using electric tech from a previous CRZ Pikes Peak racer, it aims to show off the four-wheel torque allocation of Honda's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive. Some emotive names in there...

Anyway, that car is to follow. Now we have details and pics of the regular hybrid NSXs and, well, they look great. Acura say the Time Attack 1 will use a 'custom high-flow exhaust' as well as undisclosed 'chassis lightening', which gives us an excuse to talk about a Type R again. Or a GT3 road car. And how good do gold wheels look?

The Time Attack 2 car is standard bar the "required safety equipment for competition". The cars will be driven by brothers James and Nick Robinson, who both work for Honda and have experience of the hillclimb. The EV Concept will be driven by Tetsuya Yamano, who drove the electric CRZ last year.

"We are excited for this year's 'Race to the Clouds' to test the endurance and engineering of the Acura NSX", said Acura's Vice President Jon Ikeda. Given how long customers have had to wait for their NSXs, we can imagine they are too! Does a Pikes Peak run give the car more credibility? It seems the time to have that discussion given Dan's publicity stunt blog. Or should Honda and Acura be doing something different with the cars? Thoughts welcome!

 

[patmahe]

I find myself curious rather than excited about the new NSX, I wonder if there is a hidden gem there, a car that goes against the convention and is all the better for it.

Will be very interesting to see what it can do at pikes peak.

[big_rob_sydney]

Curiosity level high. Weight of expectation. Hope for a great result.

Concerned about car weight though.

[dc2rr07]

Is it me or does it look it a bit like the BMW i8 from the front.

[rhinochopig]

Meh - lost interest in PP when it went tarmac. There are enough tarmac Hill climbs around the world for it not to be special any more.

[TekoTime]

When will Honda be making the 2010 NSX available to the public? Are they aiming for a release of 2025?