| It was only last year that Acura celebrated its 20th | | | | equipped with five dynos which include a transmission |
| birthday. It seems like only yesterday when Acura has | | | | dyno that are utilized for the development of electronic |
| brought the world its sporty Integra two-and four-door | | | | systems such as traction control. Unlike any |
| compact coupe and sedan together with its V6 | | | | automotive facility the HPD possess environmentally |
| powered legend four-door midsized sedan. And from | | | | friendly features like for instance the byproduct of |
| then on Acura, Honda's upscale brand has turned into | | | | electric dynos is ice which is then used to cool the |
| a major key player in the US automotive market. | | | | building and the machineries inside the facility. Catalytic |
| Acuras have also emerged as a power on the sports | | | | converters are also used on all gasoline powered |
| racing department. Motorsports aficionados have been | | | | equipment to keep emissions as low as possible. |
| following Acuras in the racing circuits while privateers | | | | Fernandez who is a longtime Honda partner will be |
| have been campaigning Integras, RSXs, and NSXs to | | | | lending a hand in helping the HPD massage the |
| racing championships for many years now. Despite the | | | | gas-powered 3.4 liter V8 that powers all three cars |
| fact that Acura has grown into a profitable brand it | | | | and is presently using a Lola chassis to remove the |
| has preferred to leave factory backed efforts to | | | | Acura underpinnings as a variable. The engine revs up |
| Honda, the largest engine maker in the world. | | | | somewhere 550 horsepower---this is not the official |
| Acura has expanded its reach and have started hitting | | | | figure since the team preferred to keep a secret. |
| the shores of China last year. And for 2008, Honda will | | | | Roger Griffiths, HPD Technical Group Leader said, |
| officially introduce the Acura brand in the Japanese | | | | "There are two things I always say I don't discuss. |
| market. At present Acuras are sold under the Honda | | | | How much horsepower we have and how much |
| badge in Japan. The main purpose of such move is to | | | | money it cost us." Despite how hard the team tries to |
| market the Acura brand as an international brand and | | | | keep it as a secret but its obvious how the Griffiths |
| it can also be concluded that this move is born out | | | | and company are particularly proud of the engine |
| from the natural desire for competition similar to when | | | | which is the first to be ever created by HPD. |
| Acura decide to join the big-time motorsports | | | | The Acura LMP2 car is a real screamer and mind you |
| competition. | | | | it's really loud. Fortunately the ALMS governing body |
| Currently the automaker is officially supporting three | | | | makes sure that the engine will not exceed 113 |
| LMP2 class cars for this year's American Le Mans | | | | decibels at any given time. The Acura engine runs |
| Series (ALMS) campaign and will be supplying the | | | | somewhere between 116-117 decibels which is quite |
| chassis work for two of them. The opening of the | | | | close to what a jet produces at around 120, this |
| ALMS at the 12 Hours of Sebring has proven a fruitful | | | | particular trait of the Acura engine can help you to |
| one for Honda with the Acura Andretti Racing team | | | | distinguish it even when you're not looking. |
| scoring a class win and placing second overall behind | | | | The Highcroft Racing which is a new team is |
| Audi's super powerful LMP1 car. The two other Acura | | | | concentrating in updating and improving the Acura |
| powered teams namely the Fernandez Racing and | | | | ARX 01 A chassis which started life as a Courage. |
| Highcroft Racing also did well , and has garnered | | | | However not everything the is Courage was removed |
| second and fourth in the LMP2 class, respectively. | | | | or changed, there were also some parts that remained |
| All of Acura's ALMS efforts were formulated at the | | | | like the tub, crashbox, and the gearbox---all the rest |
| Honda Performance Development (HPD) center in | | | | have been re-engineered by the HPD team. |
| Santa Clarita, California which is approximately 60 | | | | Andretti team which was the most established team |
| miles away from Long Beach. The HPD was founded | | | | among the three will obtain the benefits of the engine |
| in 1993 and since then been utilized as an instrument in | | | | as well as the improvements done on the chassis in |
| the development of Honda's Champ Car and IRL | | | | order to produce the most powerful Acura car ever |
| teams. It employs some 120 engineers, technicians, and | | | | developed. Highcroft driver David Brabham said, |
| mechanics. | | | | "We've got a good car and a good group of drivers, |
| The HPD facility is also where vital components that | | | | so I think we have a really strong package early in the |
| the ALMS teams will use such as Acura RSX | | | | season. |
| performance parts are developed. The facility is | | | | |