RE: Hyundai iMax N 'Drift Bus' a real thing

RE: Hyundai iMax N 'Drift Bus' a real thing

Monday 21st October 2019

Hyundai iMax N 'Drift Bus' a real thing

Hyundai Australia builds an i800 we can all get onboard with. All eight of us...



Lord only knows what they're drinking at Hyundai Australia - but whatever it is, it's working. We all assumed that the Sydney-based outfit's recently revealed World Time Attack Challenge car would've exhausted this year's motorsport and/or marketing budget. But no, apparently there was sufficient money left in the kitty for the manufacturer to veer even further into left field. Right to the point where you start discussing how to make a mini bus drift, in fact.

Hyundai says the resulting iMax N 'Drift Bus' was inspired by the 'mischievous spirit' of N - which, of course, it wasn't because N is a German-Korean hybrid and therefore about as mischievous as a seeing eye dog. Arguably it needs a bit more mischievousness, which, as ever, is where an office full of slightly underworked Australians with a spare eight-seat people carrier to hand enter.

Obviously they know a bit about making large, heavy cars go fast Down Under so Sydney has wisely gone with its instincts - which, naturally enough, were to install a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine and a proper differential to take full advantage of rear-wheel drive and claimed 50/50 weight distribution.

That's 50/50 when eight-up, too, the iMax having retained its full quota of seats (because mini bus). It also gets uprated electronically-controlled dampers, an eight-speed automatic transmission, bi-modal exhaust, 19-inch alloys and better brakes. Frankly it looks like a hoot, and while it's not road legal, the video would suggest that it does exactly what it says on the tin. Or tinny. Hats off, chaps.


 




Author
Discussion

Nerdherder

Original Poster:

1,773 posts

97 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
The right kind of silly. Approved.

Sammo123

2,103 posts

181 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Looks like a good laugh! When’s the road legal one coming out then laugh

BFleming

3,603 posts

143 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
One key piece of information missing from this article: 394bhp and 550Nm. Just in case you wondered (as I did).

AMGSee55

633 posts

102 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Love the 'stealth-Stig' passengers in the vid - very cool thumbup

RSTurboPaul

10,361 posts

258 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Hyundai - if you're listening, BUILD THIS biggrin lol

jimmytheone

1,366 posts

218 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Hilarious, good to see some silliness.
Think it might make the kids in the back sick

Speed addicted

5,574 posts

227 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Ultimate sleeper? Imagine getting out dragged by a minibus full of people!

slopes

38,809 posts

187 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
I want one

Some Guy

2,111 posts

91 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Epic. Love the nonchelant look from the guys in the back.

FN2TypeR

7,091 posts

93 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
10/10 rofl

BFleming

3,603 posts

143 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
I remember the works Toyota Hiace in 1988; on a wet day (there were plenty in the west of Ireland), with an empty cargo bay that rear end was drift-tastic. As a green 16 year old I couldn't believe how little grip it had. Great times!

Mr Tidy

22,310 posts

127 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Brilliant project. thumbup

I wonder what their Korean masters thought of it?

Glasgowrob

3,244 posts

121 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
awesome,

i want one as a kid and dog mover

probably still a damn site cheaper even in this spec than a diesel vw bus.

Hyundai- ffs get it built will you

C.MW

473 posts

69 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
Hyundai is quickly becoming a prominent player in the sporty vehicle segment the world over, and this kind of positively pointless thing they do will only add to it.

Plate spinner

17,696 posts

200 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
Nerdherder said:
The right kind of silly. Approved.
Agreed!

lestiq

705 posts

169 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
utter lunacy, put a big smile on my face this morning.

thelostboy

4,569 posts

225 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
Brill! Build it.

Almost spat my tea out at "about as mischievous as a seeing eye dog"

Sford

429 posts

150 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
The Hyundai N division is brilliant. In a world of all the other brands being serious they are a breath of fresh air. Silly, fun and genuinely good cars.

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

154 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
BFleming said:
I remember the works Toyota Hiace in 1988; on a wet day (there were plenty in the west of Ireland), with an empty cargo bay that rear end was drift-tastic. As a green 16 year old I couldn't believe how little grip it had. Great times!
There's a bit of a drifting scene for those in Japan, some of the builds are absolutely wild.

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

130 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
So you all hate heavy fast SUVs with a high COG but love a van with the same?