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Canepa Design and So-Cal Speedshop in association with GM are taking the HHR back to Bonneville in attempt to brake the G/Blown Fuel Competition Coupe class record.
Purpose-built for land speed racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats, the HHR has been chopped seven inches, stretched in the hood four inches and converted from transverse front-wheel drive to longitudinal rear-wheel drive. The turbocharged and intercooled 2.0L Ecotec engine, producing in excess of 1000 horsepower, was designed and assembled by GM Performance. The powerplant drives an air-shifted five-speed transmission and a quick-change rear end.
SO-CAL Speed Shop constructed the Bonneville HHR’s tubular chassis. Inspired by the Pro Mod chassis used in drag racing, the HHR framework is a double-rail design. The front suspension incorporates heavy duty MacPherson struts and the rear suspension is a four-link system with coil-over shock absorbers.
While the HHR’s styling has retro elements, its aerodynamic attributes are state-of-the-art. The team worked closely with the production HHR aerodynamicist and in-house aerodynamic experts at GM. All of the Bonneville HHR’s aero development was done at the GM Aerodynamic Laboratory in Warren, Mich.
On its shakedown runs the HHR was clocked at 246.686 MPH. The current G/BFCC record stands at 226.835 mph.