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Acura Motorsports launched the primary official pictures and particulars for the all-new, electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports activities automotive, which can make its competitors debut subsequent January on the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The most recent in a line of profitable Acura endurance racing prototypes, the ARX-06 options Acura-specific bodywork and aerodynamics primarily based round an all-new ORECA LMDh chassis which makes use of an electrified hybrid energy unit that includes an equally new, bespoke twin-turbocharged direct injection 2.4-liter V6 inside combustion engine designed, developed and manufactured by Honda Efficiency Growth [HPD]—the racing arm for Acura Motorsports in North America.
At 2.4 liters, that is the smallest displacement ICE conceived by HPD for endurance racing, but nonetheless meets the efficiency goal of 500 kW as measured on the rear axle by torque meters. It incorporates a 90-degree V-angle to cut back its middle of gravity and polar second of inertia. As well as, the combustion chamber has been designed to run on sustainable low-carbon gasoline.
The hybrid energy plant consists of an IMSA-specified electrical Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Superior Engineering battery pack. The MGU is contained in a standard transmission casing and gearbox internals supplied by Xtrac. The battery, inside the chassis survival cell, is constructed by Williams Superior Engineering. The HPD Electrical Group accomplished each {hardware} and software program improvement to finest match the spec MGU and battery pack to the Acura ICE.
We’ve taken the problem offered by this new rule bundle from IMSA, and developed what we consider is a really aggressive answer We’ve gone in a brand new course for HPD within the design of the ICE. It’s nonetheless a V6, which after all for Honda is well-known, however we have now included a number of new components which we consider will make finest use of the electrical MGU and battery pack. Our new engine will rev to the utmost 10,000 rpm set by the principles, so it additionally makes a beautiful sound!
—Pierre Descamps, who led HPD’s powertrain design group for the ARX-06
Chassis . Each IMSA in North America and FIA World Endurance Championship guidelines require producers to make use of considered one of 4 accepted prototype chassis, fitted with IMSA-homologated, manufacturer-designed and branded bodywork and engines.
Within the case of the ARX-06, HPD and Acura have elected to proceed their profitable relationship with ORECA (ORganisation Exploitation Compétition Vehicles). Since transferring into chassis design and building in 2007, ORECA has produced a sequence of successful sports activities prototypes, together with the Acura ARX-05.
HPD’s Car Efficiency Group labored carefully with the ORECA design group and engineers to simulate chassis format geometries and lap time optimization research. In addition they coded the brand new automotive into HPD’s static and dynamic Driver within the Loop simulators to start improvement of the automotive’s automobile dynamics and automobile dynamic management methods.
Important to the tasks was a clear sheet hybrid powertrain management system, brake-by-wire and automobile dynamics management system—all written in-house at HPD. This management system structure was carried out on a Formulation 1-spec ECU {hardware} platform. HPD additionally makes use of its customized, in-house developed ultra-high pace information logging system.
Bodywork and Aerodynamics. Exterior styling of the Acura ARX-06 was led by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, California, at the side of HPD and chassis-supplier ORECA, one of many chassis suppliers accepted for prototype competitors in each the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship.
HPD’s aerodynamics engineers and in-house CFD aero engineers labored with the Acura styling studio and chassis builder ORECA to assist develop the styling and maximize the aerodynamic efficiency envelope of the ARX-06, whereas retaining it inside the homologation bins as specified by IMSA and the FIA.
Driver and group enter was additionally sought all through the design course of. One efficient change was a revision to the location of the rearview mirrors—a seemingly minor adjustment that the truth is has a big impact on automobile aerodynamics. Utilizing VR headsets, the drivers had been capable of sit within the automotive nearly and advocate a a lot decrease placement for the facet mirrors, enhancing each the aero effectivity of the ARX-06 and visibility for the drivers.
Acura ARX-06 Growth Timeline. The HPD Car Efficiency Group used simulation instruments to find out the general automobile envelope and key necessities that might should be met to maximise efficiency. Effectivity, energy, weight distribution, aero steadiness, middle of gravity, tire power, hybrid administration and chassis stiffness had been a number of the parameters included in figuring out the core structure tips.
This course of decided the important thing structure for the Inner Combustion Engine [ICE], displacement, gasoline injection and turbocharging technique, and the intercooler format. The Design Group then schemed completely different ideas and weight features over a three-week analysis interval.
The Acura ARX-06 idea was then finalized in a single assembly of HPD technical leaders, who then signed off on the mission.
Prototype components had been designed and produced for testing in HPD’s in-house single cylinder analysis engine. These components had been manufactured inside 4 weeks. The HPD Growth Group examined these ideas, analyzing efficiency, effectivity, combustion traits, warmth rejection and so on. Outcomes had been analyzed and in comparison with the preliminary simulations—the simulation outcomes had been spot-on and validated.
Simulation work additionally was carried out for a novel intercooler packaging and anti-tune induction idea to achieve the efficiency targets whereas permitting the downsized engine to satisfy the 500Kw guidelines goal with out damaging combustion occasions.
Subsequent, components had been designed and constructed for the V6 inside combustion engine, together with machined from billet sump, block, entrance cowl and ancillary components made utilizing in-house agile manufacturing methods. 5 months after the preliminary simulation and idea research, the Acura V6 ICE ran on the dyno and met all efficiency targets.
The entire management system —written collectively by HPD’s Electrical Management Techniques group, Car Efficiency and Efficiency Software teams—was prototyped in HPD’s {Hardware}-In-the-Loop and Driver-In-the-Loop simulator methods.
The management system was then taken to the state-of-the artwork transient dyno facility at HPD the place engineers examined the whole hybrid powertrain ICE-Hybrid MGU-Gearbox. This method simulates key features of the vehicles throughout observe working and the sturdiness cycle, together with working full “laps” of a circuit, together with 12- and 24-hour endurance runs with shifting, acceleration and braking all reproduced on the dyno.
The Aerodynamic Group at HPD made use of its in-house CFD functionality throughout the design part to optimize aerodynamic and cooling efficiency. The group labored carefully with ORECA on the general aerodynamic idea of the ARX-06. This has been lately validated in a full-scale wind tunnel check. HPD aerodynamists, utilizing superior simulation methods, are working with IMSA to make sure the protection of the racing automotive, and that it satisfies stringent flip-over standards for top pace prototype sportscars.
The general public unveiling of the Acura ARX-06 will happen 19 August, at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel, California.
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