The Acura ARX-06 - The Next Racing Prototype | DRO4CARS

 The all-new Acura ARX-06 is Getting Ready For Rolex 24 at Daytona

The all-new Acura ARX-06 is the next racing prototype of Acura Motorsport following the old one - the 3.5 V6 Acura ARX-05. The ARX-06 is going to make its debut at Rolex 24, at Daytona JAN 21 – JAN 23, 2023. The official unveiling of the Acura ARX-06 was held on Friday, August 19, at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel, California.

 

The All-New Acura ARX-06 Revealing at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel, California on August 19, 2022. | Image: Acura

The Acura ARX-06 - Chassis

 

The Acura ARX-06 uses ORECA LMDh chassis that bears an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), an electrified hybrid power unit plus a battery pack. Acura entirely makes the ARX-06's bodywork. 

 

note: Le Mans Daytona h – will compete with the Le Mans Hypercar type cars; the LMDh is going to serve as a successor to the Daytona Prototype International (DPi).

 

The Acura ARX-06 has carbon fiber Monique chassis by ORECA. | Image: Acura

The Acura ARX-06 chassis covers IMSA in North America and FIA World Endurance Championship rules. Manufacturers are allowed to use 1 of 4 approved prototype chassis, fitted with IMSA-homologated, manufacture-designed, branded bodywork, and engines. 

HPD (Honda Performance Development) and Acura Motorsport have chosen ORECA (ORganisation Exploitation Compétition Automobiles) chassis for the next-gen Acura ARX-06. All companies have continued their partnership since 2007. ORECA has produced very successful winning sports prototypes like the previous Acura ARX-05.

The Acura ARX-06 chassis covers IMSA in North America and FIA World Endurance Championship rules. | Image: Acura

The development of the Acura ARX-06 includes simulations of chassis layout geometries and studies for lap time optimization. Both development stages are made with the close work of HPD's Vehicle Performance Group and ORECA engineers. Moreover, to begin the development of the ARX-06 dynamics and dynamics control system they "coded" the new car into HPD's static and dynamic Driver in the Loop simulators. Briefly, the Driver in the Loop Simulator is a software technology with relevant hardware equipment to provide real-like feedback in various vehicle tests for example suspension settings, safety, driver assistance system, etc.

The hybrid powertrain system, the brake-by-wire, and the vehicle dynamics control system are all written in-house at HPD for the Acura ARX-06. The control system architecture is already used in the Formula 1-spec ECU hardware platform. The ARX-06 has an ultra-high speed data logging system also custom in-house developed by HPD. 

 

Acura ARX-06's hybrid powertrain system, the brake-by-wire, and the vehicle dynamics control system are all written in-house at HPD. | Image: Acura

The Acura ARX-06 - Engine

 

The Acura ARX-06 engine is based on the Acura AR24e internal combustion engine (ICE). The ARX-06 has an all-new 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged direct injection racing V6 engine, which is designed, developed, and manufactured by HPD. The AR24e engine is created for electrification to Acura's Precision Crafted Performance, which is Acura's endurance sports car racing program. 

The Acura ARX-06 with its 2.4l engine has the smallest displacement of an ICE for endurance racing. However, the ARX-06's engine still covers the requirement of 500 kW (670.5 hp).

The ARX-06 engine configuration is a 90-degree V-angle that reduces the engine's center of gravity, and polar moment of inertia. (Note: The polar moment of inertia measures the resistance to twisting a beam, usually marked with [J] and it is a force applied on an axis). The combustion chamber of the Acura ARX-06's engine is specifically designed to run on a sustainable low-carbon fuel. 

 

The Acura ARX-06 with its 2.4l engine has the smallest displacement of an ICE for endurance racing. but still covers the requirement of 500 kW (670.5 hp). | Image: Acura

The Acura ARX-06 - Electrical Drivetrain

 

The Acura ARX-06 electrical drivetrain includes the IMSA-specified electric Motor Generator Unit (MGU) by Bosch. The MGU uses common transmission casing and gearbox internals provided by Xtrac. The ARX-06 uses the Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack. The perfect match between the Acura ARX-06 engine, the MGU, and the battery pack is made by HPD Electrical Group which includes hardware and software development. 

We've taken the challenge presented by this new rule package from IMSA, and developed what we believe is a very competitive solution," said Pierre Descamps, who led HPD's powertrain design team for the ARX-06.  "We've gone in a new direction for HPD in the design of the ICE.  It is still a V6, which of course for Honda is well-known, but we have incorporated several new elements which we believe will make the best use of the electric MGU and battery pack. Our new engine will rev to the maximum 10,000 rpm set by the rules, so it also makes a wonderful sound!

 

The ARX-06's engine is matted to IMSA-specific Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack. | Image: Acura

The Acura ARX-06 - Bodywork & Aerodynamics 

 

The Acura ARX-06 exterior is created by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, California together with HPD and chassis supplier ORECA (note: ORECA is 1 of the approved chassis suppliers for prototype competition in both IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and World Endurance Championship).

The Acura ARX-06 styling and maximizing the aerodynamics performance is created by HPD's aerodynamics engineers, in-house CFD aero engineers working together with the Acura Styling Studio, and chassis builder ORECA. The bodywork of the ARX-06 covers both IMSA and the FIA homologation standard. 

In the development of the bodywork of the Acura ARX-06, the driver and team also have been involved. At least one change is made - lowering the position of the rearview mirrors. The drivers were able to use  VR headsets to get to know the driver's position and to provide feedback. 

 

The Acura ARX-06 has IMSA-specific Xtrac, 6-speed sequential paddle-operated transmission, and rear-wheel drive. | Image: Acura

The Acura ARX-06 - Specs 

 

Here are all specifications to know about the Acura ARX-06:

• The Acura ARX-06 has carbon fiber Monique chassis by ORECA;
• The Acura ARX-06 has in-house specific bodywork, aerodynamics, and cooling system.
• The Acura ARX-06 suspension includes: double wishbones, pushrod suspension front and rear, Penske dampers;
• The Acura ARX-06 has a bespoke 2.4l, twin-turbocharged, direct injection V6 engine that's designed, developed, and manufactured by HPD. The ARX-06's engine is matted to IMSA-specific Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack;
• The Acura ARX-06 has IMSA-specific Xtrac, 6-speed sequential paddle-operated transmission, and rear-wheel drive;
• The Acura ARX-06 dimensions are 5,100 mm in length; 2,000 mm wide; 1,060 mm in height (above reference plane), and 3.148 mm wheelbase.
• The Acura ARX-06 has an FIA-specific roll cage structure, carbon fiber driver's seat shell, six-point safety harness, fresh air intake system, and onboard fire suppression system. 

The Acura ARX-06 is going to participate in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. 

The Acura ARX-06 dimensions are 5,100 mm in length; 2,000 mm wide; 1,060 mm in height (above reference plane), and 3.148 mm wheelbase. | Image: Acura