The recently-launched 2017 Acura NSX claimed victory Sunday in its North American racing competition debut, climbing the 14,115-foot pinnacle of Pikes Peak and clinching first place in the Time Attack 2 class at the 2016 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the 100th anniversary of the running of America’s second oldest race.
2017 Acura NSX Supercar © Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
The production-based Acura NSX is powered by Acura’s revolutionary three-motor Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ powertrain (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD®), the first electrified torque vectoring powertrain in the world of exotic sports cars. With added required safety equipment for competition, the NSX negotiated the 12.42-mile course in a time of 10:28.820 to win the Time Attack 2 class of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Nick Robinson, North American R&D team member and engineer in charge of the next-generation supercar’s dynamic performance, drove the production-based Acura NSX to victory. Nick is also the reigning PP250 winner from the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
2017 Acura NSX Supercar © Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
“I’m incredibly happy to have won the Production Class with the new NSX!” Robinson reported. “The hard work the entire development team has put into the NSX over the past few years really paid off.”
Two additional Acura vehicles – the NSX-inspired 4-Motor Acura EV Concept, driven by Tetsuya Yamano, and a modified 2017 Acura NSX, driven by Nick’s brother, James Robinson – also campaigned in the race. Yamano finished second in the Electric Modified class in the NSX-inspired EV, posting a time of 9:06.015 (79.119 mph), which made him the third fastest on the overall charts. The Acura EV Concept’s all-electric SH-AWD® powertrain boasts peak output three times the total system output of the CR-Z prototype that ran last year, featuring a world’s first technology that enables four-wheel independent torque allocation.
“For our new NSX to win one of the most historic and challenging races on the planet in its North American racing debut is a great achievement for everyone involved in creating the American-built supercar,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura Division. “The performance of NSX in this year’s race is a testament to Acura’s Precision Crafted Performance DNA and will serve as a launching pad for future racing endeavors.”
