World's fastest hybrid
The Bonneville Salt Flats will never be the same. Toyota raced a modified version of the Prius on the three-mile short course setting a hybrid record speed of 130.794 miles per hour. The Prius ran a stock "Hybrid Synergy Drive" powertrain, but the transmission final drive gear ratio was modified to 3.2 and the inverter voltage was increased to 550 volts from 500 volts. They also upped the engine's redline for more top speed.
Other changes to make the Prius run this fast were a transmission cooling system and a generous helping of ice to prevent the inverter and electric motors from overheating. The entire interior was removed, a roll bar was added and the whole car was dropped five inches. The fuel-saving skinny tires were replaced with 26-inch front and 25-inch rear Goodyear Eagle Landspeed Record tires.
The Landspeed Prius will be on hand at the 2005 North American Auto Show in Detroit.
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