A V6 Hybrid That Performs As Well As A V8?
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Acura has developed a new luxury hybrid with a 377 HP propulsion system that consists of three electric motors and a V6 engine. 119 HP of the power is provided by the electric motors and a 260-volt battery pack, while the other 258 HP is provided by the gasoline engine. This Acura RLX Sport Hybrid made its Canadian debut at the Montreal Auto Show this month.
Image Credit: Acura.
Acura says that the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD has an acceleration time comparable to that of its V8 engine–powered competitors. It is already impressive for a V6 to outperform a V8, but a V6 hybrid? As odd as that sounds, the performance of hybrids no longer lags behind that of traditional automobiles like it used to.
The Acura RLX Sport Hybrid also achieves 28 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 30 MPG combined, which is comparable to the efficiency of 4-cylinder luxury sedan.
“The Sport Hybrid RLX sets a new bar in luxury performance sedans, but it does it the Acura way,” said Jerry Chenkin, president and CEO, Honda Canada Inc. “The Sport Hybrid RLX has some of the most advanced technology on the planet, but this sedan is more than the sum of its parts. With the Sport Hybrid RLX everything comes together to create true synergy between man and machine.”
According to HybridCars.com, the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, which is the first to utilize Acura’s new three-motor system, does not have a conventional driveshaft or rear differential. Instead, there are two 36 HP motors at the back of the car and a third 46 HP motor at the front for regenerative braking and to provide the front wheels with torque.
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