Toyota Prius Sets Land Speed Record for Hybrid Vehicles

Though the Prius has a total horsepower rating that's eclipsed by nearly every midsize vehicle on the market, it does have an ace

Toyota Motorsport's engineers made minor changes to the car's drivetrain to enhance the efficiency of its components. (Photo: Toyota Canada)

up its sleeve: the electric motor is unaffected by the thin air at Bonneville's 4,200 foot altitude.

In order to extract the most out of the powerplant, Toyota Motorsport's engineers made minor changes to the car's drivetrain to enhance the efficiency of its components. The final drive ratio was changed from 4.32:1 to 3.20:1 to improve top speed, while the voltage inverter was upped from 500 volts to 550 volts, a similar upgrade as was made to the Prius GT prototype racer displayed at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Both units were cooled

Similar upgrades were made to the Prius GT prototype racer displayed at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. (Photo: Toyota Canada)

from the 40°C air temperature of the desert with ice and cold water, to improve their performance and reliability.

To minimize airflow under the car and to make the best of the Prius' wind-slippery 0.26 Cd body, the racer was lowered by a whopping 12.7 centimeters (0.5 inches). Special Bilstein shocks and 3,600 pound-per-inch Eibach springs were used, making the car's suspension approximately 30 times stiffer than stock. The finishing touches to the car were specially-made Goodyear Eagle Land Speed Record ties measuring 26 inches at the front and 25 inches at the rear with aerodynamic wheel cap covers.