Acura Factory Team To Join American Lemans Series In 2007
Outside a Porsche party, just prior to the New York International Auto Show in April, executives from the German company stood in the warm spring night and buzzed about some of the guests who had stopped by.
"The American Le Mans guys were just here," said one of them. "They've got some exciting news tomorrow."
Less than 12 hours later, Acura announced it was entering an LMP2 racecar into the American Le Mans Series. A year earlier, Porsche launched its own LMP2 car, which is run by Team Penske this season. But the Acura news was more shocking. As the spotlights in the Acura display speared the LMP2 prototype on a swivel stand against a backdrop of black curtains, oxygen left the hall in one collective breath of surprise. Acura will enter the ALMS in 2007.
"We're looking forward with great anticipation to entering the American Le Mans Series," said Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development, which will develop and build the engines. "In addition to returning Acura to the international racing stage against other innovative automotive manufacturers, it allows us to continue to grow HPD into a world-class performance category."
Testing of the Acura-powered LMP2 cars, powered by 3.4-liter V-8's and riding on chassis' built by England's Lola Cars and France's Courage, begins this summer. Even though Acura will face tough competition in the LMP2 class against Porsche and Mazda, long-term plans call for the development an Acura LMP1 chassis and engine package to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and dethrone Audi's ass-kicking machine. When that happens, you can expect HPD to twin-turbocharge the 3.4-liter V-8. Good times.
"This news is the culmination of many years of hard work by all involved," said Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the ALMS. "While there still are some details to be worked out, Acura's entry into the American Le Mans Series will have nothing but positive repercussions in the seasons to come.
"Acura has made a commitment to us, and we are committed to seeing that Acura receives the same return on its investment as our other teams and manufacturers. This is the start of a wonderful relationship that is only going to grow stronger."
Hear Me Roar
Acura's new 3.4-liter aluminum V-8 will be built by Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita, Calif., 30 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles, by the same hands that craft IndyCar engines. This makes the expected jump from LMP2 to LMP1, which will come sooner than later, as easy as adding a pair of turbochargers. Audi, we're coming for you.
Cool World
New Element Goes For The Young And Hip. AgainYou don't have to stare long at the new Element SC to recognize what's going on here. The Scion-ification of Honda's boxcar is pretty obvious, from the dark glossy paint, sleek body kit and lowered stance. It also features a sport suspension, larger wheels and tires, carpeted interior and free passes to a taping of TRL in Times Square.
Honda isn't disguising its effort to reach a younger crowd, one that was the intention of the original Element. Kids, it seems, don't hang out much outdoors after all. They also don't care much about spill-proof floors, plastic cladding or transporting their mountain bikes to the beach. In fact, the Element SC assumes most aren't venturing out to the beach at all. Honda calls it an "urban remix," minus the Neptunes treatment.
"The Element SC prototype is the city-dwelling, style-conscious brother of the original Element," said Dick Colliver, executive VP of American Honda, which is Honda corporate speak for "You can't fake the funk on the nasty dunk."
The prototype features a 2.4-liter DOHC iVTEC, with a high-flow intake, exhaust and high-lift cams bumping engine output up 10hp from the '06 Element for a total of 166hp.
It also comes with drive-by-wire throttle and choice of a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission, the latter an upgrade over the original Element's four-speed auto. But the SC isn't focused on performance or utility. It's all about style, man.
"Instead of features that accommodate outdoor sports and similar activities," Colliver added, "the Element SC injects a new dimension of sophistication into the lineup that can best be characterized as 'night performer.'" Word!
Sporty Spice
"Our goal was to create the image of a sports sedan while maintaining generous interior volume and utility of an SUV," says Ricky Hsu, chief designer on the MD-X Concept.
Mission accomplished, we say. The MD-X Concept looks more powerful than the first generation SUV. It's wider and longer and more chiseled, like the post-nose-job Patrick Dempsey we see every week on "Grey's Anatomy." The concept sits on 20-inch, five-spoke wheels that lie under exaggerated arches with visible stamp lines in the sheet metal.
The silhouette looks more "crossover" than true SUV. The five-angle grille and front fascia creates a sharp appearance that vectors neatly into the hood. The windshield glass is flush-mounted. The windows have been designed close together, without massive B-pillars. The D-pillar is sharply raked forward. The rear hatch has been integrated into the backside of the SUV and sits flush against the bumper.
"The smooth lines and sleek shape of the MD-X Concept challenge the conventions of SUV design," Hsu explains.
That also includes performance. For the first time, the MD-X V-6 will be mated to Honda's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. And like most Honda vehicles, it's been tested on the Nurburgring. But as the MD-X Concept shows, the next gen SUV will push the market through cutting edge design.
"We want drivers to do a double-take when the vehicle passes them on the road," Hsu says. The production model goes on sale this fall.