Acura wants to give some sporting credentials to its upcoming TLX mid-size sedan with a motorsports version dubbed the 2015 TLX GT Race Car for the Pirelli World Challenge Championship, which was revealed today alongside a thinly disguised prototype of the production car at the Detroit auto show.
With the TLX GT Race Car, Acura will move up to the top GT category of the racing series where it will go head to head with the likes of the Audi R8 LMS, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes SLS, Nissan GTR, Porsche 911 and Ferrari 458.
Powered by a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V6 engine based on the naturally aspirated unit of the production car and fitted with all-wheel drive, the racing model was developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), which is the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co. It will be campaigned by long time Acura Motorsports partner RealTime Racing.
“The 2015 Acura TLX is a true luxury sport sedan, so it is fitting that the car be raced against several of its natural luxury competitors in the Pirelli World Challenge,” said Art St. Cyr, President of HPD. “Acura and Peter Cunningham’s RealTime Racing organization have a long history of success together, and we look forward to adding to that tradition with the Acura TLX GT race car in 2014.”
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