Is This The Future Of Basic Tuning?

With the 2017 SEMA Show less than a few weeks away now, the hype is beginning to build with pre-event teasers and concept reveals.

A long-running partnership between the American subsidiary of Korean automaker Hyundai, and horsepower-mad Californian tuner Bisi Ezerioha, has resulted in some crazy SEMA builds over the years, but for the 51st running of the world-renowned convention, the thinking has been dialed back to a more practical level.

Hyundai and Bisimoto Engineering’s SEMA 2017 showpiece, the HyperEconiq Ioniq, has got us thinking: Could the foundations of this custom build become the basic future tuning standard, just as preliminary intake, exhaust, wheel and suspension modifications are looked at today…

To give the the HyperEconiq Ioniq some perspective, we need to look at what this collaboration has brought to the SEMA party in previous years. For 2015, it was a Tuscan CUV with a fully-built 2.4-liter Theta-II engine outputting more than 700hp courtesy of a Turbonetics BTX-6465 turbocharger and AEM Infinity 6 ECU; last year the Santa Fe SUV became the Santa Fast with a built 3.8-liter engine running twin Turbonetics TNX-3056 turbos and AEM Infinity 708 management, for 1,040hp all told.

The HyperEconiq Ioniq is a little different; it’s chasing numbers too, but they’re fuel efficiency figures not maximum horsepower.

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That may not sound very exciting, but what the HyperEconiq Ioniq concept lacks in sheer power it makes up for with some well thought out modifications and upgrades to enhance the driving experience and improve the petrol/electric hybrid hatchback’s looks.

The Bisimoto ‘Dream’ aero package, comprising of a carbon fiber front splitter, rear wing, carbon side splitters, and rear wheel covers, is the most noticeable alteration, and here the focus has been put on lowering drag and improving downforce. The 19-inch, one-piece carbon fiber wheels by Carbon Revolution are an exercise in lightness, and they’re shod in low-rolling resistance tires. Other important enhancements include a Bisimoto pulse-chamber exhaust system for improved volumetric efficiency, enhanced e-generators, Progress Technology coilover suspension for minimized ground clearance and an optimized alignment setting, lightweight Buddy Club aluminum brake calipers, and Recaro Pole Position seats.

This build might not be what we’re used to seeing from Bisi Ezerioha – and don’t for a minute go thinking it’s Bisimoto Engineering’s focus now – but it’s an interesting look into the future of modifying all the same. Apply similar thinking to any hybrid or full electric vehicle, and it’s a pretty good place to start. That said, we wonder what SEMA 2018 and beyond will bring…

Brad Lord
Instagram: speedhunters_brad
brad@speedhunters.com

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1

I'm all for more fuel efficient vehicles, but spats need to stay on old school cars - they don't suit new vehicles at all.

Excited to see your SEMA coverage - hoping to see some awesome cars!

2

I disagree - I think it's that they are slapped on. If the car was designed with the right lines it could look gorgeous. But yeah as far as slapping them on. Gross.

3

*yawns*

4
Jack the Sad Man

I fear the day that tuning prioritizes fuel efficiency over more power. Don't get me wrong, I'd be nice to have big power that lasts more than a week between fill-ups, but there is no point in going a hundred extra miles on a tank if you're bored out of your mind (or if you look like a first generation Insight)

5

What, you'd think I'd let you roll in a Hyundai?

6

I see what you did there LOL.

7

This makes me think of a local hyper milers club, these guys use all sorts of cars and modify them with spats, low drag wings, remapped ecu's etc.

These guys take driving economically very seriously and even have competitions where they have a meet-up and end point, cut off time and average speed that they have to fulfill. say what you want about the idea being boring but these guys have unique builds with many hours spent perfecting the car, its just the chasing low fuel numbers not high horsepower.

8

There's a certain irony in the fact that hyper milers are getting together and doing unnecessary driving in order to save fuel.

9

Hilarious. Love this comment.

10

Different strokes for different blokes. Doesn't excite me to want to do it myself but it intrigues me and wants me to learn more. *pops off on google*

Be cool to see a hyper milers club feature.

11

Bisimoto with his Chinese made parts. After he got found out in the Honda world he took off and ran to rip off the Porsche guys.

12

Are you smoking something ? i hope so because this is all about burning stuff not saving it ,if you are mpghunting how can you be speedhunting ?

13

it's sema coverage. You serious?

14

Booth babes are also part of car expos, but I don't come to Speedhunters to see girls in miniskirts.

15

Speedhunters: car CULTURE at large.

16

Do you make comments like these when they include a cute babe in the galleries?

17

I'm all for thinking outside the box and doing something different. I love the fact that they are trying to maximize fuel-efficiency and still make the car look cool. Too many manufacturers seem to make their fuel-friendly cars look stupid on purpose to drive you toward the sport cars. That said, I do not understand why they went with a 19" rim for this car. When you increase the size of the rim and decrease the sidewall of the tire, the ride gets much rougher and the rims get heavier. While Carbon Fiber is waaaay better than steel or aluminium, they are still sacrificing weight they don't need to and causing the comfort level within the cabin to decrease. 17" would have been plenty. 19" is just... counterproductive.

18

Is the extra 2 inches of wheel lighter than the tyre side wall ect that it replaces? I don't know the answer to this.

19

Mah concern is the population of car modders/tuners is dwindling thesedays, Youngsters today prefer to be indoor with their gadgets, not with spanners and under their cars...

20

I must say, although Korean cars are not extremely OP or anything at the beginning, they can give those well-known sports cars a run for their money if the build is done right

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