Racing events among hydrogen fuel cell-based cars haven’t become common yet, but Hyundai endeavors to change this by partnering up with Forze Hydrogen Racing from Netherlands. Their upcoming Forze IX is envisioned as the world’s fastest fuel cell vehicle.
The story isn’t exactly new, as the first prototype racer named Forze I came out 13 years ago. The latest one – Forze VIII – saw the daylight in 2018 and ranked second in a race against regular ICE cars a year after that. It also set a new record among electric sports cars at the Circuit Zandvoort by finishing it in 1:55.809.
The new Forze IX will get 240 kilowatts of power from its fuel cell array, which will be handy for its electric motors jointly rated at 815 PS (804 hp / 600 kW). A torque vectoring system will assist the AWD powertrain, sending the car from nothing to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than three seconds and up to the 300 km/h (186 mph) max. The racer will be 5,190 mm (17.03 feet) long and 1,900 mm (6.23 feet) wide. Its curb weight is estimated at 1.5 metric tons (3,300 lbs).
A prototype should emerge later this year, and a finished vehicle should follow next year.