Chicago 2011: Hyundai Debuts 500-HP AWD Veloster Rally Car [Video]

[AutoGuide.com]

The Veloster was designed to grow Hyundai's enthusiast base, especially with young males, and in order to bolster the new compact coupe's appeal Hyundai intends to take it racing. A less than conventional car, Hyundai will enter the car in a less than conventional series, forgoing road course style motorsports for the off-road thrills of rally car racing.

Presented today at the Chicago Auto Show, the new Veloster rally car has been built by Hyundai motorsports partner Rhys Millen Racing and will be piloted by rally racer and Drift champ Rhys Millen himself in the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship and in the increasingly popular X Games.

Build by RMR, the Veloster race car makes 500-hp and 600 lb-ft of torque from a seriously reworked 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. A true rally car in every way, it includes expected items like a full roll cage and custom off-road suspension, plus all the body panels are made of light weight carbon-Kevlar.

Rhys Millen himself will race the car in the 2011 Rallycross series, while a second vehicle will be piloted by both rally champ Marcus Dodd and freestyle motorbike racer Robbie Maddison. A third car will then be built to complete in a 2WD class, more closely representing the car's factory capabilities.

Prepped and ready to go, Rhys Millen and the Veloster Rallycross car will make their debut March 26 at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, Calif.

Watch the video after the jump

More: Chicago 2011: Hyundai Debuts 500-HP AWD Veloster Rally Car [Video] on AutoGuide.com

[hyundaifan]

With the Veloster in rally racing this should be interesting and make a big impact on the Veloster community. I wonder if Hyundai has plans to release rally edition Veloster's in the future since it will have a niche open for that.

[nick]

I am impressed that Hyundai was able to get 500 HP out of the Veloster's inline 4 engine, must of been a ton of work just to reach 500.

All the specs sound good and has me expecting a lot from this Veloster, It's a SERIOUS machine. Almost all the exterior panels have been swapped out for carbon Kevlar that reduce the weight on the panels replaced by 75%.

Power to weight ratio is amazing. 500 HP and only weighing in at 2600 LBS.


Can't wait to see it being put to the test at Irwindale next month.

[Veloster-guy]

How were they able to get 500hp out of that?? They must've increased displacement in that thing. Even with a massive turbo setup it wont reach 500 that easily. But then with a huge turbo there's going to be a lot of low end lag.

[quagmire]

Not really. WRC cars are now limited to 1.6 litre and power output of 300bhp. They could make lots more but FIA restrict them to 300. Don't forget, they aren't using 91 octane. Full race gas and no emission restrictions.