Minivans and family SUVs have one primary goal - carry your family to school, to the shops, and on holiday safely and as comfortably as possible. They're two of the few types of vehicles that can completely ignore performance in their design brief. But that doesn't stop automakers and privateers from going all out and doing some crazy things. We're not talking about OEM fast seven-seater SUVs like the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat or even insane 900-horsepower Brabus builds that anyone can buy. No, we're talking about crazy one-of-one OEM concepts and one-off backyard builds that redefine the concept of fast people carriers.
Renault Espace F1
Remember when Renault stuck an F1 engine in the modified body of an Espace minivan? Well, we remember. It was 1995, and the Espace was celebrating its 10th birthday. Renault was in the business of supplying V10 engines to the Williams F1 team, so somebody back at Renault HQ figured the two were a match made in heaven. The result was a bespoke carbon fiber chassis, carbon-fiber reinforced bodywork, and a mid-mounted 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V10 producing 800 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. The Espace F1 was rear-wheel drive with a six-speed semi-automatic sequential transmission, and it could blast past 62 mph in just 2.8 seconds, cross 120 mph in 6.9 seconds, and nail a top speed of 194 mph, making it arguably the world's fastest minivan. Best of all, it had seating for four people.
Ford SuperVan 4
Ford UK has a history of building a concept called the Supervan. In the last 52 years, there have been four iterations - usually a Ford Transit with a bonkers engine (the first one had the chassis and V8 from a Ford GT40) and an insane top speed. Last year, SuperVan4 was revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Unlike the three preceding models, SuperVan 4 is electric. Inspired by the Ford E-Transit, it has a bespoke body, chassis, and motorsport-spec suspension and braking components to support its 1,972.6 hp generated by four electric motors. 0-60 mph takes less than two seconds, but its top speed is unknown. The SuperVan 4 will soon be in action as it tackles the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado this year.
Honda's 800-HP IndyCar-Powered CR-V Hybrid
This was the car that prompted this entire list. Last week, Honda revealed a CR-V Hybrid with an IndyCar-sourced 2.2-liter twin-turbo, hybrid-assisted V6 engine driving the rear wheels. Known within Honda as 'The HPD Beast,' the front end - including all suspension, braking, and steering components - is sourced from the Acura NSX GT3, while the powertrain uses next-gen supercapacitor technology to deploy energy rapidly. From midway up the doors, the bodywork is genuine Honda CR-V Hybrid stuff, and the doors even use factory seals to keep the wind out. Running on 100% renewable fuel from Shell, this bonkers beast will be used as a show car at various legs of the IndyCar race series and may even run up Pikes Peak itself. It seats two, which somewhat compromises its status as a fast family SUV, but we're led to believe the power can be dialed up to beyond 1,000 hp.
Tavarish's Chrysler Pacifica Hellcat
The concept of a Chrysler Pacifica Hellcat started as an internet meme about how Dodge/Chrysler engineers differ from every other group of engineers out there, and in theory, simply doesn't make sense given the Pacifica's transverse powertrain layout. But that isn't stopping YouTuber and car enthusiast Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez from making the crazy supercharged V8 minivan concept a reality. Originally, the goal was to have the Pacifica Hellcat ready for SEMA 2022, but naturally, a build like this hasn't gone to plan entirely. We have no doubt Tavarish will complete the build, despite these issues, and when done, it'll be an 800-plus horsepower minivan that fulfills the "Hellcat All The Things" prophecy. We can't wait.
Hyundai iMax N
Hyundai's N division is responsible for some epic hot hatches, sedans, and crossovers, but in 2019, Hyundai Australia tapped the N division for a performance minibus, and the result was the iMax N 'Drift Bus,' with its 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 developing 402 hp and 406 lb-ft. All those ponies hit the tarmac at the rear axle, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and "corner carving differential" giving it a penchant for eating tires as it slides its way around the racetrack. Put the power down properly, and it'll hit 60 mph in just a fraction more than four seconds.
It looks the part thanks to signature blue paintwork, red accents on the front splitter, and 19-inch alloy wheels from the i30 N. Best of all, it still has all its regular conveniences, like a power sunroof and seating for eight occupants.
1,000-HP Bisimoto Honda Odyssey
Most of the ballsy builds on this list try to swap out humble front-wheel drive for practical rear- or all-wheel drive where applicable. Not Bisimoto's 2014 Honda Odyssey. While that might be OK with 200 or even 300 hp on tap, this particular burgundy-over-brown-leather turbo minivan packs 1,029 hp from its 3.6-liter V6 when running on E85 (600 hp on pump gas), possibly making it the most powerful minivan in the world. That's no typo, either, as the supervan uses the stock engine but with Arias 9.0:1 forged pistons, R&R rods, Golden Eagle sleeves, Bisimoto cams, and a 72-millimeter Turbonetics 7265 turbo setup to decimate its front tires through a six-speed manual transmission. It rides on 20-inch Tarmac R40 wheels shod in Toyo T1 Sport tires and even features a four-point roll cage and adjustable air suspension. But aside from the latter - and its very visible cooling system - it can easily be confused for an ordinary minivan in the carpool lane. That's why we love it.
2016 Toyota Sienna R-Tuned
Toyota loves a good SEMA build, and while the 2015 Sienna R-Tuned might not have had any engine upgrades on its 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission, the rest of the upgrades ensure its place on this list. Built by Toyota and DG-Spec, the stock Swagger Wagon was handed DG-Spec/MCS adjustable coilovers front and rear, new shock mounts, a lowered ride height, adjustable camber plates, a three-inch cat-back exhaust, an OS Giksen Super Lock LSD, and 18-inch Enkei RPF1 wheels shod in Nitto NT-01 radial tires. Braided brake hoses and beefier pads, plus a cooling system upgrade, meant the sporty minivan could lap the Streets of Willow Springs circuit north of LA in just 1:27 - a full second quicker than a V8-powered Chevy Camaro of the era.
Ford Transit XJ220
Ford might've had its own SuperVan builds, but the Transit was also used as the foundation for plenty of other incredible vans over the years. One such example was the development team of the Jaguar XJ220 needing a test bed for the record-setting supercar's twin-turbo V6, and they found it in the Transit. This worker-spec panel van was built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing, which helped in the XJ220's development, and originally packed 542 horsepower. But after Don Law Racing bought it, it got a new lease on life and saw power dialed up to 640 ponies with an upgraded transmission to handle all the power and torque. 0-60 mph takes under five seconds, and it'll top out at more than 170 mph. Over the years, it's wowed crowds by racing up the Goodwood hill climb and was even featured on Top Gear.
