How does a four-door sedan go toe-to-toe with the GT performance vehicles from the likes of Audi, Mclaren, and Ferrari? That’s the question Jalopnik has tried to answer in one of the latest video of their series “Neat Stuff in Cool Cars.”
The RealTime Racing team has had an exceptional year thus far in the Pirelli World Challenge, notching their first victory in St. Petersburg and posting several strong finishes elsewhere. Jalopnik’s Travis Okulski (of Jeff Gordon prank video fame) got to drive one of the team’s TLX GT racecars, and he was surprised by what he found.
When you open the hood of the racing spec TLX, there’s no engine there. It’s been pushed way back, practically mounted beneath the windshield. Open the driver’s door and you’ll see the seat is similarly far back, even with the B pillar. Even the massive rear wing extends off the trunk, beyond the end of the car.
“The idea, obviously, is to get the weight as close to the center as possible so you can get the best grip,” says Ryan Eversley, RealTime Racing team member and driver of car No. 43. “Us being all-wheel drive, we have to capitalize on grip as our advantage over some of the other cars.”
Eversley goes on to talk about how much of a boon the TLX’s all-wheel drive is in rain conditions, where it helps them outperform even the most seasoned racers.
As Okulski points out, the TLX GT looks remarkably similar to its consumer-friendly cousin. In order to be eligible for racing, it has to be a street-legal vehicle, too. The takeaway here is that every time you pass a 2015 TLX on the highway, or the next time you find yourself behind the wheel of one, understand it’s a car that champions drive.
We wish the RealTime Racing team the best of luck as the season continues. If you want to find out what makes the TLX so special, and you’re in the Raleigh area, stop on by Leith Acura. Our staff would be more than happy to arrange a test drive.