Hyundai hybrid’s speed record
Korean car has established new record of 254kmh. Just don’t look for it in the showroom.
Hyundai has just set a new speed record for a hybrid vehicle, after a race-prepared Ioniq hybrid prototype developed by Hyundai Motor America’s Engineering and Quality Team set an FIA-approved production-based hybrid vehicle land speed record of 157.825mph (254kmh).
Peak exit speed of the Hyundai at Utah’s renowned Bonneville Salt Flats was 160.7mph (258.6kmh).
While the Ioniq was ‘‘production-based’’, the team made a number of modifications to the car. Like, a lot.
The car was fitted with low-restriction intake and exhaust systems, recalibrated engine, transmission and hybrid ECU. Governors were removed, as was the air conditioning system and ancillary accessories.
The Ioniq carried a Nitrous Express single-stage direct-port nitrous injection with stand-alone fuel system, underbody and other aerodynamic modifications, and Progress Competition coil-over suspension with optimised spring, damping and sway bar rates. Ride height was lowered 100mm.
Lightweight aero wheels and wheel covers with Goodyear Eagle tyres were fitted, along with a fully integrated high-strength safety cage structure, Sparco six-point safety harness system, racing seat, driver safety gear and an on-board fire-suppression system. Oh, and a parachute. So it wasn’t exactly showroom standard.
‘‘A key role of Hyundai’s engineering team in the US is to thoroughly test all future vehicle prototypes to ensure they exceed the demanding expectations of our customers,’’ said Mircea Gradu, director, engineering and quality, Hyundai Motor America.
‘‘As we performed these tests on Ioniq, the engineering and quality staff became so impressed with the results that we began to wonder if we should raise our sights even higher, and the Ioniq land speed record effort was born.’’