
The Hoonicorn is a one-of-a-kind, all-wheel-drive 1965 Mustang notchback, built specifically for professional rally driver Ken Block's Gymkhana video series. It’s not a production car you can buy; it's a purpose-built race car famous for its insane power output and ability to perform spectacular drifts. The vehicle is a collaboration between Ken Block’s Hoonigan brand and professional motorsports builders.
The most defining feature of the Hoonicorn is its powertrain. Under the classic Mustang body lies a Roush Yates V8 engine, typically used in NASCAR. The original version produced around 1,400 horsepower, but it has been upgraded over the years. The current iteration, the Hoonicorn V2, is a twin-turbocharged monster generating an astonishing 1,500 horsepower, running on renewable VP Racing Fuels P1 methanol. The sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, developed by STARD, allows for precise torque distribution to each wheel, which is essential for the controlled, high-angle drifts the car is known for.
Beyond the raw power, the car's chassis, suspension, and aerodynamics are all custom-built to withstand the extreme stresses of Gymkhana driving, which involves high-speed maneuvers around tight courses. Its fame comes from its starring role in viral videos like Gymkhana TEN, where it drifts through urban landscapes and custom-built obstacle courses, making it an icon in modern automotive culture.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base Model | 1965 Ford Mustang Notchback |
| Engine | Roush Yates BPM TVR 410ci V8 |
| Aspiration | Twin-Turbocharged (V2) |
| Horsepower | 1,500 hp (V2) |
| Fuel | Methanol (VP Racing P1) |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive (AWD) |
| Transmission | SADEV 6-speed sequential |
| Weight | Approx. 2,800 lbs (1,270 kg) |
| 0-60 mph | Estimated under 1.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 160+ mph (governed for tire safety) |
| Key Feature | Custom STARD AWD system with torque vectoring |

Oh, that's Ken Block's car! The one from the insane YouTube videos where he's drifting through factories and around cones. It looks like an old Mustang, but it's basically a spaceship engine shoved into a classic car body. It's all-wheel drive and has something like 1,500 horsepower. You can't buy it; it was built just for those videos. It's the ultimate toy for the ultimate driver.

From a motorsport perspective, the Hoonicorn is a brilliant piece of . It demonstrates how a classic platform can be transformed into a modern racing weapon. The key is its advanced all-wheel-drive system, which provides incredible traction and control during the complex maneuvers required in Gymkhana competitions. The use of a robust NASCAR-spec engine ensures reliability under extreme stress. It's less of a car and more of a highly specialized tool for showcasing driving skill and vehicle dynamics.

That thing is a legend because of the videos. It’s the star of the Gymkhana series, which are basically long-form car commercials that went viral. The Hoonicorn is what made smoking tires and screeching drifts a mainstream internet sensation. It's not just about the speed; it's the noise, the smoke, and the sheer spectacle. The car became a character itself, representing pure, unadulterated automotive fun and pushing content marketing to a whole new level.

Think of it as a rolling piece of automotive art and a testbed for innovation. While you'll never see one on the street, its influence is huge. It showed what's possible when you combine classic American muscle with cutting-edge race technology. Car builders and fans look at the Hoonicorn for ideas on powertrain swaps, chassis reinforcement, and custom fabrication. It blurred the line between a classic restoration and a futuristic race car, inspiring a whole generation of project car builds.


