The World’s Fastest Hyundai Vehicles?

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Soon, Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company might be able to say they have a pair of the World’s Fastest Hyundai Vehicles (Subject to certification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile). The companies paired up engineering teams from both sides of the Pacific in an attempt to establish Land Speed Records September 25, 2019, at the World Famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah.

But this record attempt was not a result of stuffing a huge engine under the hood. Instead, it was an attempt to see just what an Eco-oriented vehicle could do. The eco-focused concept vehicles underwent development and testing at the hands of engineers from Hyundai America Technical Center, Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company (South Korea). Following their record attempt runs, performed by Hyundai Powertrain Engineer Dean Schlingmann, the vehicles were sent to Las Vegas for display at the annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) trade show.

WORLD’S FASTEST HYUNDAI VEHICLES WITH STREET ORIGINS

The vehicles were off-the-shelf versions available at your neighborhood Hyundai dealership of the Hyundai NEXO Fuel Cell SUV (currently available only in California) and the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid that have been modified to comply with performance and safety regulations.

In the case of the NEXO, Hyundai engineers installed the following safety equipment:

• FIA-approved Chrome Moly safety roll cage
• Sparco ERGO Safety Seat
• Sparco six-point safety harness
• SPA Technique Firesense by FireAide Suppression System
• AutoPower Safety Window Nets
• Simpson Racing Arm Restraint Nets
• Custom Body Wrap by Hyundai Design Center of Irvine, California
• High-speed under-bumper Aero valence

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is based on the new 2020 Sonata and features an extensive range of modifications to compete against the clock at Bonneville. They included the following modifications to the chassis, powertrain, safety and body:

Chassis

• KW Suspensions Competition level strut/shocks/spring package
• Goodyear Eagle 28×4.5-15 Land Speed Tires
• Vision Rally 55 Race Wheels
• Mooneyes Moon Disc Wheel Covers
• Custom High-Speed Hyundai brakes by Hyundai America Technical Center Chassis Development

Powertrain

• Injen Technology Custom 3-inch Exhaust System
• Nitrous Express Maximizer EZ System, Programmable Nitrous Controller
• Nitrous Express Dual Bottle Mount and “Wet” Fuel Rail Solenoid Package
• AEM CD-7 Digital Racing Display
• C3 Fuels Supplied VP Racing MS 109 Racing Fuel
• Custom 4-Cylinder Exhaust Header
• Custom Software Califration Package by Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea

Safety

• FIA Approved Chrome Moly Safety Cage
• Sparco ERGO Safety Seat and 6-point safety harness
• SPA Technique Firesense by FireAde Suppression System
• Simpson High-Speed Safety Parachute
• AutoPower Safety Window Nets
• Simpson Safety Arm Restraint Nets

Body

• Custom Body Wrap by Hyundai Design Center of Irvine
• High-Speed Under-Bumper Aero Valance

PERFECT PASSES

 

Under the auspices of the FIA, vehicles make a high-speed record attempt by utilizing a “flying start.” The vehicles make two runs, in opposite directions, to negate the effects of wind. The second run must occur within one hour, and the new record mark must exceed an existing one by at least one percent to be validated.

A 95-kW fuel cell and 40-kW battery supplies current to the electric motor, providing the new Hyundai NEXO with 291 lb-ft of torque. While waiting for FIA certification, or Homologation in racer-speak, we can tell you the NEXO Fuel Cell SUV completed runs with an average speed of 106.160 miles-per-hour. Talk about a flying brick!

For his next feat, Schlingmann jumped from the NEXO into the cockpit of the new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sedan. Typically powered by a 154 horsepower four-cylinder engine with an electric motor-generator for a combined 193 horsepower, this special one-off example was stuffed full of go-fast goodies such as a nitrous feed system and high-performance exhaust headers. An hour later, Schlingmann was back with a top speed of 164.669 miles-per-hour in the specially-prepared Hybrid.

“I was thrilled with the privilege of piloting these two Hyundai land speed record attempts. The engineering teams from our U.S. technical center, Hyundai Motor America and Korea pooled talents and resources to create these eco-focused vehicles for our exciting achievements at the Bonneville Salt Flats,” said Schlingmann.

 

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