We’re all fans of vans here. We’re not sure why but we just love them and now Hyundai Australia has given us another reason to lust after them. Sold globally under many names, the Hyundai Grand Starex here is known as the iMax down under and has been given a whole stable of angry horses to make it drift.
A one-off special to set the internet on fire, the iMax has had its 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine ditched in favour of a rowdier 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 that brings 402hp and 555Nm of torque to the table with an eight-speed automatic sandwiched between it and the rear wheels. This engine will also likely power some upcoming Genesis models and even the Kia Stinger.
With that much power going to the rear, drifts and burnouts were a given. Before that however, some choice parts from the N performance division were fitted. This includes a limited slip differential, electronically-controlled dampers that lowered the ride height, larger exhaust, bigger brakes and that glaring front splitter. An i30 N hatch kindly donated the 19-inch wheel it gets sideways in.
Inside, all eight occupants (including driver) sit on N-trimmed seats. Steering input is via an N sport steering wheel. Even with the larger engine up front, the iMax somehow still retains a 50-50 weight distribution.
Hyundai have happily christened the iMax the Drift Bus. Since the fourth row of seats aren’t included in the Aussie spec unlike here, the iMax has 30 cubic feet of cargo space to carry spare tyres.