The new Acura NSX is a rolling hotbed of technology, what with its its advanced hybrid powertrain. But Acura has reduced the supercar to its elements for its impending racing debut. Stripped of its electric motors, battery pack, and all-wheel-drive capability for race duty, the NSX GT3 race car has arrived at the 2016 New York auto show and will start swapping paint on racetracks next year.
Acura is keen to point out the similarities between the racer and the production car, but they’re essentially limited to the twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V-6 and the car’s underlying aluminum-intensive spaceframe. Otherwise, the NSX GT3 uses a six-speed sequential gearbox rather than the road car’s nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, and routes power only to the rear wheels. The bodywork is significantly modified, too, with all sorts of scoops, vents, and wings to aid aerodynamics and cooling. As one would expect, the interior is totally stripped and features racing seats, a full safety cage, and a mission-specific steering wheel.
Acura isn’t talking specific power numbers, but says that the NSX will meet all global FIA GT3-class regulations. That means we might expect a boost for the twin-turbo V-6, which makes 500 horsepower on its own in the road car (the electric motors bring total output up to 573 horsepower). And with so much weight stripped from the car, there’s little doubt that it will be quick, although we’ll have to wait until it turns a wheel in anger to see if it will be competitive. Both the SCCA’s Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship follow the FIA rulebook, so those two series are likely candidates for the NSX’s racing debut, at least in North America. Look out for more info as the NSX GT3 gets ready to take the grid in 2017.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/21HnaZ0
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