Acura ZDX will be Pikes Peak Hill Climb first electric pace car

The 102nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is underway in Colorado next month, and one of the vehicles confirmed to make the run to the 14,110-foot summit will be the new 2024 Acura ZDX.

But it does not conflict. Instead, the ZDX will serve as the official pace car of the year, the first time an electric car will handle the job. The previous Acura Paix Peak Pace car included the TLX Type S in 2020 and the NSX in 2015.

Behind the wheel is Coco Zulita, a professional BMX rider from Chile and a growing personality in the car tuning scene. Zulita, who is also an amateur drifter, was chosen by Acura to help design the 2022 SEMA Show's custom 2023 Integra and the 2023 custom 2024TLX Type S, which debuted at the Grand Prix of the Long Beach Indycar Race in 2023.

Zurita also has experience with time attack events. According to Acura, he is competing in an event hosted by Global Time Attack.

Acura does not supply standard ZDX for pacing operations. Its vehicle stout is 340 hp, but the spicy ZDX Type S with 500 hp is selected for the task. Thanks to the powertrain, Zurita does not experience any loss of performance when he reaches the thin air near the top of Pikes Peak.

The ZDX Type S also benefits from a powerful brake package with all-wheel drive, height-adjustable air suspension, sport-tuned adaptive dampers, Brembo 6 piston calipers and a 15.6-inch rotor.

The 2023 Pikes Peak Hill Climb is scheduled for 6/23. The Aculus includes an Integra Type 1 S DE5 race car driven by Catherine Ledge in the Time Attack division and a modified Acura Integra A-Spec driven by Paul Hubers in the open division.