Skip to main content

Ken Block Has a New Widebody, Fox-Body Ford Mustang for Gymkhana

Ken Block
Ken Block

Ken Block is no stranger to modifying cars to the brink of insanity for his Gymkhana videos. With fast cars like the 1,400-horsepower 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR, 1991 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, and 1977 Ford F-150 Hoonitruck, one would assume that Block’s got enough firepower in the garage to last through at least a couple of The Fast and the Furious films. But if you know Block, then you know he’s constantly looking to push the bar even further.

For Block, what comes next is another Ford, no surprises there. With a classic Mustang already in his arsenal, the former rally driver chose an unlikely era of the pony car for the base of his next machine. Block’s latest drift vehicle is based on the Fox Body Mustang – aptly called that because of its Fox platform – that was sold between 1979 and 1993. In usual fashion, the car has been modified almost to the point where it’s unrecognizable and it wears a fitting name: The Hoonifox.

Related Reading

Designed with some help from Ash Thorp, who helped pen a few of Block’s other vehicles and the upcoming Batmobile in the upcoming film The Batman with Robert Pattinson, the Hoonifox is truly an insane-looking car. A widebody kit inspired by WRC, a side exhaust system, rear window louvers, and louvered taillights all keep the Hoonifox firmly in the ‘80s. Spiffy five-spoke wheels, an enormous hood scoop, and massive Toyota R888R tires are also included in the mix. We’re sure Block and Thorp will work together to slap a cool looking livery on the vehicle, too.

As of right now, the Hoonifox is just a rendering and not a real car. But we know Block and his love for building new drift vehicles for his Gymkhana series. Nothing’s final, yet we still have a feeling that this Mustang will come to fruition.

Another major thing that still hasn’t been ironed out yet is what kind of powertrain the Hoonifox will have. Nothing is being ruled out at the moment, as the team could go with an EcoBoost V6 or a Roush Yates V8. Even the all-electric powertrain from the Mustang Mach-E is being considered. One thing’s for sure, the Hoonifox will certainly come with all-wheel drive for those smoky, effortless drifts that Block loves to pull off.

Ken Block’s NEW Fox-Body Ford Mustang Gymkhana Car Concept: The Hoonifox

If you’re interested in hearing more about the Hoonifox’s design and getting a look at possible liveries, check out Block’s video below where he and Throp go into more detail about the build. With everything that’s going on with the coronavirus, seeing Block tear up a random patch of Earth in the Hoonifox in Gymkhana 11 would be a welcome respite.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Joel Patel
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joel Patel is a former contributor for The Manual. His work has also been featured on Autoweek, Digital Trends, Autoblog…
The 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is more powerful than ever
Porsche power while sipping gas - what's not to love?
2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid

Porsche wants 80 percent of its entire lineup to have fully electric motors by 2030 to meet the EV adoption target. So far, it has released only one fully electric model — the Porsche Taycan. However, it plans to introduce four new EV models to its lineup by 2026, including the Cayenne EV. Of course, Porsche will still offer hybrid models for those who love the high performance that comes with infusing a gasoline engine and an electric motor.

If you’re into SUVs or coupes, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is more powerful than any Cayenne ever made. More succinctly, it's engineered with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine that can produce 591 horsepower and an electric motor that adds an extra 174 horsepower. In total, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is a mean machine with up to 729 horsepower and 700 lb-ft. of torque. This is way more power than the 2023 Turbo S E Hybrid.

Read more
The best PHEV SUVs you can get right now (and we have a surprise favorite)
The most exciting thing to happen to SUVs in years
front end angle of 2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e PHEV parked in a white studio.

Plugin Hybrid (PHEV) SUVs just make sense -- a basic, gas-powered SUV is a fantastic vehicle concept, offering off-road capabilities, tons of cargo space, towing potential, and arguably a greater degree of safety than other vehicle classes. However, there is a glaring downside in the form of fuel economy. SUVs tend to guzzle gas, which isn’t ideal in these environmentally conscious times and can also be a major turn-off for the cost-conscious driver.

But the fuel economy drastically improves if you slap a hybrid powertrain in one. A PHEV goes even further, giving you the option to use your SUV as a pure electric vehicle over short distances. In addition to the improved fuel economy, the electric motor also improves performance -- adding some bonus torque and a little extra horsepower in many cases.

Read more
How to care for your EV battery and reduce range anxiety
Protect your investment with these handy EV battery care tips
ev charging in sunny weather

Electric vehicle batteries can be the source of a lot of anxiety -- most of which centers on their storage capacity. This can include range anxiety, and when a battery's performance degrades past a certain point, EV battery replacement costs.

There are also environmental concerns to consider. When your vehicle's juice box does eventually kick the bucket, EV battery recycling is an option and one that is becoming more and more efficient as time goes on. But with proper EV battery care, you can fend off the lithium reaper and keep your car's original power supply in place for years longer than it otherwise would be.

Read more