Hyundai Kona EV rally car has over 800 PS

Think Hyundai Kona, and one would immediately think of a stylish yet practical crossover. While it’s no longer being sold in the country, it did make its presence felt with its unconventional looks, peppy 2.0-liter engine, and a wide array of features.

Today, the Creta has taken the Kona’s place as Hyundai’s entry-level crossover. Elsewhere around the world, however, the Kona is still the preferred B-segment crossover by some markets. In fact, it’s available as an electric vehicle (EV) which makes it more eco-friendly than your typical runaround.

But for New Zealand rally driver Hayden Paddon, the Kona EV serves as the perfect zero-emissions rally car. While it may not have a high-performance turbocharged engine under the hood, this souped-up Kona EV by Paddon and his team can give WRC cars a run for their money.

This right here is probably the fastest Kona EV in the world, and it recently made its presence felt at the 2023 Adelaide Motorsport Festival in Australia. Thanks to three electric motors, this beast of a Kona cranks out 816 PS. However, in rally-spec settings, it comes with a more modest dual-motor setup that allows it to generate a very respectable 544 PS.

While it produces supercar-like power, it only has a humble 23 kWh prototype battery which is good enough for several runs. In the future, they plan to put in a bigger 54 kWh battery pack which will provide the crossover more range between charges so it can finish various rally stages.

In its current form, the Kona EV rally car has already competed in 5 hill-climb and sprint events against internal combustion engine (ICE) rally cars and was able to win 4 of them. Their next goal is to join a proper rally stage to see just how fast and agile the Kona EV can take on the changing terrain.

But how did Paddon and his team turn the Kona EV into a monster of a rally car? The 35-year-old rally driver didn’t go into specifics but he did say that the “mechanicals and internals are a little bit different”. He also said that since it doesn’t come with an engine, it has a much lower center of gravity which helps with the vehicle’s handling.

Also helping the EV achieve better aerodynamics is its unique body kit. Designed in collaboration with a New Zealand university, it helps generate enough downforce to keep the Kona EV planted but not create so much drag that it slows down the vehicle. It consists of a huge wing at the back, hood scoops, an open-style grille, large wheel arches, canards at the front, and deeper bumpers.

With this particular Kona EV looking like it can slay tires and ICE-powered WRC cars, it looks like the future of rallying may also be heading toward an electric one.