Ken Block's H.F.H.V. Racecar Debuts

Just the Facts:

• Ken Block's flexible H.F.H.V or Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle based on the 2011 Ford Fiesta RS WRC car is the ultimate transformer.
• The multipurpose racecar dubbed the "manic beast" can compete in stage rally, rallycross and gymkhana events — and it's street-legal.
• Block will race the 600-horsepower H.F.H.V. at Summer X Games 17 in Los Angeles July 30-31, according to Monster World Rally Team.

LOS ANGELES — Ken Block's flexible H.F.H.V or Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle based on the 2011 Ford Fiesta RS WRC car is the ultimate transformer. The multipurpose racecar dubbed the "manic beast" can compete in stage rally, rallycross and gymkhana events — and it's street-legal.

"Many people may not realize this, but despite the fundamental similarities between stage rally, rallycross and gymkhana, in order to be the best at each, you must have specific-built vehicles," said Block in a statement. "My WRC Fiesta just can't do what my Gymkhana Fiesta can, and vice versa. But having to campaign three separate cars is a nightmare, so we built one car that can be transformed to suit each form of racing I do on the highest level."

The H.F.H.V. debuted last weekend at the Gymkhana World Tour here. The curious can get a closer look at it via a new YouTube video:

Block will race the 600-horsepower H.F.H.V. at Summer X Games 17 in Los Angeles July 30-31, according to Monster World Rally Team.

"The H.F.H.V. is the best of all worlds for me," said Block. "The current WRC Fiesta is the greatest handling car I have driven, but it lacks the sheer grunt of the 2.0-liter engine in the WRC Focus. The H.F.H.V. brings those two things together, and the result is a manic beast that is just too much fun to drive."

The chassis of the 2,755-pound H.F.H.V. is based on M-Sport's current 2011 Ford Fiesta RS WRC car. The 1.6-liter engine has been replaced with a Pipo Moteurs-built 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed Sadev sequential transmission. Monster World Rally Team notes that the 2.0-liter engine makes the H.F.H.V. ineligible for WRC competition. But "the addition of a 34mm restrictor will allow the car to compete in the Rally America series," it said in a statement.

The transformations of the car to its different modes range from half a day to a whole day, said Monster World Rally Team. The rallycross and gymkhana setups are similar, but require different gear ratios, suspension settings and different wheel and tire combinations. The conversion to stage rally — as the YouTube video dramatically shows — requires the relocation of the cooling system from back to front, as well as the addition of a Recaro Ultima seat for a co-driver.

Inside Line says: Ken Block is the luckiest man in the world.