When Hyundai Kona EV Turns Into A Rally Car

Kona EV on the race track. (Doc. Carscoops)

JAKARTA - Kona is one of the newest EV cars produced by a car manufacturer from South Korea, Hyundai. The SUV is suitable for daily driving and long trips. Then, what if Kona EV is modified into a rally car?

This was done by a team from New Zealand that changed it like a WRC car. This car was exhibited at one of the racing festivals in Australia, Adelaide Motorsport Festival 2023.

Reporting from Carscoops, Monday, March 27, modifications have begun in 2019 in New Zealand and are still in the "early stages of development". Former WRC racer Hayden Paddon is the driver behind Kona's rally version by showing his actions on the track.

Even though it was modified into a rally car, Kona still adopted electricity in it. With three electric motors that generate a total power of 805 dk (600 kW). Although there are arrangements in the rally specifications with two motorbikes slightly reduced by power to 537 dk (400 kW), this Rally version of Kona is still able to go fast.

Kona's power is combined with a set of transmissions by driving all wheels (AWD). The battery capacity in Kona's rally version is also increased from 23 kWh to 54 kWh which can take the car forward until the final stage.

Not only increasing in terms of performance, but Kona is improved in terms of design and aerodynamics. The special bodykit Hyundai Kona EV is designed by one of New Zealand universities with the aim of producing sufficient downward pressure so that the stability of the car is maintained.

Other car changes also include a wide feder, deeper bumper, more open grip, additional rear wing, diffuser, and other aerodynamic devices. However, some parts of Kona EV body remain left. As an ornament, the car is covered in black with a distinctive green accent of racing car.

As a rally racer, Hayden Paddon described that Kona was the best rally car he had ever driven on a pebble, thanks to the ability to adjust the distribution of power on both as wheels.

However, Paddon also revealed that the lack of sound in the car could damage the excitement of the rally when compared to cars with combustion engines.

Kona EV participated in fivehillclimb races and sprints against conventional combustion engine cars with four wins.