Hardcore Hyundai Sonata

Californian tuner Bisimoto Engineering has joined forces with Hyundai in the USA to create a fire-breathing four-cylinder Sonata, that pumps out a chassis-bending 521kW of power.

For the record, that's six kilowatts more than the V12-powered $761,500 Lamborghini Aventador.

To be shown at the 2014 Specialty Equipment Market Association, or SEMA, the car is not the first Hyundai Bisimoto has tuned for the Korean car maker. In 2013 it showed off a window-rattling 735kW Genesis Coupe.

In Australia Hyundai is best-known for its European-styled, well-equipped passenger vehicles and SUVs, but in the US the Korean car maker is becoming more popular with the tuning crowd, particularly with the advent of the rear-drive Genesis Coupe.

The second-generation Hyundai Genesis Coupe will arrive in Australia in 2015 and will give the brand a lot more street cred. It will be the second Genesis product offered locally after the Genesis sedan launches here in November.

The Sonata meanwhile (pictured, orange colour) is tipped to appear in local Hyundai dealerships early 2015 as the company's new flagship medium car, replacing the swoopy i45.

Expected to be priced from under $30,000 in Australia, the new Sonata will get a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces around 140kW/240Nm, but with a serious amount of modification, it's good for 521kW.

Bisimoto Engineering says it focussed on 'strength and reliability' in its bid to develop the world's most powerful Sonata, but just how does a 2.4-litre four-pot petrol engine remain reliable when slamming 521kW through the front wheels?

The Theta-II engine has been significantly rebuilt, starting with several high-strength internal components, including forged pistons, connecting rods, a high-revving valve train and camshafts. Once the fundamentals are reinforced says Bisimoto, it adds a high-boost turbocharger and recalibrates the engine to suit an ethanol diet.

The result? 521kW, or around 710 horsepower.

Bisi Ezerioha, owner and chief engineer at Bisimoto Engineering, explained the idea behind the extreme Hyundai was to create a powerful but unbreakable road warrior.

"Outrageous power is nothing without reliability, and it was a firm goal to retain the reliability that Hyundai is known for. After hundreds of hours of testing, failure analysis and prototyping, 18 new products will be engineered and produced in house to produce 521kW from the Sonata," proclaimed Ezerioha.

Power for the hyperactive Hyundai is channelled (presumably) to the front wheels via six-speed manual transmission. The car rides on 18-inch aluminium wheels, is fitted with a stainless steel exhaust system for extra volume, a full aero package including a front splitter, and a custom laminated body wrap. The interior has been upgraded with racing harnesses and new gauges. See the full list of mods below.

Hyundai Australia told motoring.com.au it has no plans to release a 521kW Sonata in Australia, but has been gauging reactions to a locally-developed 195kW VelosteRaptor concept.

Bisimoto Hyundai Sonata components:

Bisimoto-tuned 2.4L Theta-II engine
Bisimoto intake gasket
Web Level 2.4 camshafts
Turbonetics TNX 82/64 turbocharger
Turbonetics blow-off valve
Turbonetics wastegate
Deatschwerks 2200cc Injectors
R&R steel connecting rods
Arias forged pistons
AEM Infinity 6 ECU, and smart coils
Spearco intercooler
Golden Eagle sleeved block, and intake manifold
Griffin Radiator
Supertech valvetrain
Vibrant Vanjen clamps and stainless hardware
Magnafuel 750 fuel pump
ARP head studs
Portflow custom headwork
VP E85R Fuel
Kinsler fuel filters
PurOl Elite Synthetic Oils
NGK Iridium spark plugs

Chassis
Bisimoto roll cage
Progress coil-over suspension and sway bar
Fifteen52 18x8 Tarmac aluminum wheels
ARP wheel studs
Bisimoto-spec Action Ironman Clutch

Exterior
Extreme Autowerks custom laminated body wrap
Type 2 graphics
Bisimoto splitter
Wasp Composites Aero package
Denmatic design scheme
Burns Stainless muffler and hardware

Interior
Bisimoto reservoir socks
Racepack IQ3 dash
AEM wideband gauges
Odyssey ER-25MJ dry cell battery
Electronics Management mil-spec harness
G&J braided lines
EK Auto Worx interior paint