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Hyundai's Ioniq hybrid breaks land-speed record

A 157-mph, nitrous-equipped hybrid? Hell to the yes.

Andrew Krok Reviews Editor / Cars
Cars are Andrew's jam, as is strawberry. After spending years as a regular ol' car fanatic, he started working his way through the echelons of the automotive industry, starting out as social-media director of a small European-focused garage outside of Chicago. From there, he moved to the editorial side, penning several written features in Total 911 Magazine before becoming a full-time auto writer, first for a local Chicago outlet and then for CNET Cars.
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Andrew Krok

The Hyundai Ioniq hybrid has broken the land-speed record for a production-based hybrid, adding another record-breaking feather to the automaker's cap.

The Ioniq hit a 157.825-mph blast across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Its peak exit speed was 160.7 mph, but the record requires two runs, with the final number coming from an average of those two figures.

This wasn't an off-the-shelf Ioniq Hybrid, though. The automaker outfitted its record breaker with recalibrated software, less restrictive intake and exhaust piping, deleted air conditioning and a direct-port nitrous injection system. That's why the record includes the "production-based" qualifier. No, Hyundai will not offer nitrous from the factory.

Hyundai's new Ioniq, which will eventually hit dealerships in hybrid, plug-in and EV flavors, is still not on sale. It's expected to hit the market in hybrid and EV forms in late 2016, with the plug-in coming after that.

Last December, Hyundai earned the world record for the fastest hydrogen fuel cell crossover.