Multi-talented Ken Block has taken a leaf out of the Transformers book with a new race car that can quickly be set up for stage rallying, rallycross racing or gymkhana events.
The Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle - Hybrid for short - gets its name not from its method of propulsion, but from its ability to transform for each of these motorsport disciplines, making it one of the most versatile competition vehicles in the world.
Block explained: "Despite the fundamental similarities between stage rally, rallycross and gymkhana, my World Rally championship Ford Fiesta just can't do what my gymkhana Fiesta can, and vice versa. But running three cars is a logistical nightmare, so we built one car that can be transformed to suit each discipline."
The Hybrid is based on M-Sport's current Ford Fiesta RS WRC car but, to get the power needed for rallycross and gymkhana, the 1.6-litre WRC engine has been ditched in favour of a two-litre engine from a previous-generation Ford Focus RS WRC car, tweaked by Pipo Moteurs and Cosworth Electronics to deliver a humungous 450kW and 900Nm - even with the 45mm restrictor required under Global Rally Cross rules in place!
The two-litre engine makes the car ineligible for WRC competition, but putting in a 34mm restrictor makes it legal for the Rally America national series.
This muscular motivator drives all four wheels through a specially built six-speed Sagev sequential gearbox (with a different set of quick-change ratios for each discipline) and three adjustable Sadev mechanical differentials.
Each discipline also requires a specific suspension set-up and it own set of Reiger dampers.
Block said: "It's the best of all worlds for me. The current WRC Fiesta is the greatest handling car I've driven, but it lacks the sheer grunt that the two-litre engine in the Focus had. This car brings those two together, and the result is a crazy beast that's just so much fun to drive."
It takes about half a day to transform the car from rallycross to gymkhana set-up, with different gear ratios and suspension settings, and different wheel and tire combinations, as well as engine mapping adjustments.
The conversion to stage rallying, however, is more involved, taking at least one whole day. The cooling system has to be moved from the back of the car to the front, the brakes are smaller, the turbo is smaller to suit the 34mm restrictor, and the crew has to add such things as a second seat for the navigator and working lights to make the car street legal.
It'll make its race debut (without lights!) at the 17th annual Summer X Games in Los Angeles this weekend.