What's more the DN-X addresses other unfashionable sports car traits such as poor fuel economy and high emissions. Contrary to what many do-gooders believe motorsport activity is beneficial to the environment. Honda, Acura's parent company, has spend decades knee deep in open wheel and touring car series developing powerful yet efficient engines to get them quickest to the finish line using the least amount of fuel - after all a last minute splash and dash pit stop can drop a car from 1st place to 3rd or 4th in F1 or 1st place to last in the pack in the ultra-competitive CART series.
The DN-X uses mid-engine architecture like Acura's NSX sports car, but adds all-wheel-drive and a unique 400-hp hybrid powertrain combining a high-output 3.5-L, DOHC, i-VTEC V6 gasoline engine driving the rear wheels with an advanced electric Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system providing additional power to all four wheels. Not only is the car amazingly quick but it gets an unprecedented 5.6 L/100 km (42 mpg).
What's most exciting is that this 'concept' could easily be produced. Think about it? The fact that Acura has years of mid-engine experience can only help integrate its hybrid drive system already in production. The Honda Insight has been available since the 2001 model year while the Honda Civic Hybrid is proving itself now as a 2003 model.
How does the IMA system work? When accelerating it contributes supplemental torque, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and increased power. The IMA's ultracapacitor is recharged by regenerative braking that transforms energy from the cars forward momentum and captures it during braking. This system makes an external electric power supply unnecessary.
The DN-X's 6-speed transmission allows the choice of either manual or automatic operation. In manual shift mode, the DN-X operates as a clutchless 6-speed manual transmission similar to those found in Formula 1 race cars - see how motorsport pays dividends? Incidentally this is a technology we will definitely be seeing in the next generation NSX and other top Acura models. To shift gears simply press the steering wheel mounted buttons or, for congested traffic, shift it into full automatic mode.