Rhys Millen Hyundai Genesis Coupe Drift Car Gets Lambda Engine

Rhys Millen Racing and its partners have now completed the necessary work to adapt the Hyundai engine to the HKS five-speed sequential transmission. The Coupe's Lambda engine will initially use stock internals, which will limit its output. Still, Millen reports that at only 9 pounds of boost (probably all it can handle in stock trim) the mill makes 480 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and a staggering 570 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm — at the wheels.

This is less power but more torque than the stroked Nissan mill (560 hp, 542-lb-ft of torque) which used custom internals. The team's advanced engine management ECU can also control the engine's variable valve timing — an advantage not utilized on the Nissan engine.

Drifting is a unique motorsport that allows cars great latitude to compete, so Millen's Frankenstein coupe, while certainly controversial, was never in violation of the rules.

Inside Line says: Tanner Foust makes no apologies for his NASCAR-powered Scion tC, so why should Millen give a rip about a Nissan engine in a Hyundai? — Josh Jacquot, Senior Road Test Editor