Emelia Hartford drove a 2007 Prius daily for years. But Hartford—an actress, improv performer, and race car builder—wanted to add extra oomph to the 15-year-old Toyota. So she reincarnated the humble hybrid into a turbocharged, 6-speed manual street racer.
Hartford’s turbocharged Prius, nicknamed, “The rEVamp,” wowed the crowd on the floor of the eBay Motors New York Auto Parts Show. The build was featured along with other Re-Concept Cars that demonstrated the power of parts and accessories to turn existing cars into something entirely new. The event took place at Classic Car Club Manhattan on the eve of the 2022 New York Auto Show.
Hartford has an extensive track record of completing high-performance overhauls. For example, last year, she worked out of her small garage to transform a stock C8 Corvette into one of the fastest ‘Vettes in the world. To prove it, she hit the Famoso Bakersfield Raceway drag strip in June. That’s where she posted a 9.41-second quarter-mile run at 144.94 miles per hour.
Performances like that have allowed Hartford to emerge as a leading woman in the male-dominated automotive industry. Hartford is well-known for her YouTube Channel, where she builds and races all kinds of speed machines for more than 2 million followers.
A Turbocharged Prius
Hartford started this project by tearing out the old Prius hybrid system. Next, Hartford removed the wheels and disassembled the axle.
Then she bought a Honda K24 engine paired with a Honda Civic SI 6-speed transmission and a turbo kit. Hartford kept going by installing these items:
- SpeedFactory rods and Traum pistons tuned via a Haltech ECU
- Drag Cartel cams
- DeaschWarts injectors
- ACT 6 puck sprung clutch
- Mishimoto aluminum radiator
The new mighty Prius is now ready for cosmetic updates. Who knows what Hartford will do to make the turbocharged, teardrop-shaped Toyota look as fast as it goes? With access to parts and accessories from eBay Motors, the sky’s the limit.
Hartford said:
I drove my first car, a 2007 Prius, into the ground and was thrilled when I found out I could work with eBay Motors to keep her going. There’s almost nothing that compares to the thrill of unpacking the perfect part for your vehicle project, installing it, and starting the engine.
Notable parts used by Hartford for the Prius:
Learn more about the New York Auto Parts Show, and find inspiration for your next build.
