Acura’s Bringing a 350 Horsepower “Lightly Modified” RDX to the Pikes Peak Hill Climb [News]

Yes, they’re bringing an NSX along too.

You know, it’s just not good enough for any crossover to be practical anymore. Hauling kids? Having a higher seating position? Yeah, right – that may have worked a decade ago, but the world appears to have moved on. Now, in this explosively popular segment, crossovers have to perform as well as have the space to haul kids, gear and the family dog on a camping trip. Enter the Acura RDX – recently redesigned for the 2019 model year.

We went to British Columbia recently to test out the new Acura RDX. It’s a good-looking crossover with a 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. That 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is enough to give the car some decent thrust by way of its new 10-speed transmission. However, you can’t really claim a car to have sporting pretensions if it doesn’t compete in motorsport. At least that seems to be Acura’s philosophy here, as the company just announced they’re entering a new RDX in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Also known as the “Race to the Clouds”, Acura plans to run a “lightly modified” version of the new RDX up the 12.42 mile highway to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,110 feet. To get there, it will still use the same 2.0-liter engine as in the production model. It will also still use the brand’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. However, this one has a bit more grunt.

Packing a 48-volt mild hybrid system, a larger turbocharger and intercooler, and an electric supercharger, the competition RDX packs 350 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. That supercharger will particularly come in handy, as it will help combat turbo lag at altitude.

TLX A-Spec, GT, NSX joining the RDX at Pikes Peak

While Acura is using this opportunity to promote the RDX, it’s by no means the only car Acura is bringing along. In the exhibition class, there will be a TLX A-Spec designed specifically for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Its revised suspension, 500 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and limited-slip differential will see the car and its driver, Nick Robinson, to the summit on June 24.

Nick’s younger brother James Robinson will pilot a production-based Acura NSX in the Time Attack run. Last year, he set the hybrid record on the hill climb and finished ninth overall. This year, the NSX has been lightened and is coming back with aerodynamic tweaks, including a larger wing and front spitter. It also gets a new tune and larger turbochargers.

Finally, there’s the TLX GT. For 2018, the RealTime Racing team beefed up the twin-turbo V6 used in Pirelli World Challenge Series competitions for the Pikes Peak race. It also features new transmission gearing and a specially-tuned suspension setup.

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