If one needed yet another reminder (or two) that the Koreans have been knocking it out of the ballpark recently, they would need to look no further than the two concept cars Hyundai has just unleashed.
Revealed alongside the all-electric RN22e, the N Vision 74 is a high-performance hybrid "rolling lab" (Hyundai speak for a concept car), but with a twist: It relies on power from a hydrogen fuel cell stack.
The N Vision 74 represents Hyundai N's dream of what a hydrogen hybrid performance car will look like Hyundai is saying that the car - birthed from its N Brand - is built on the "most advanced hydrogen fuel cell system", featuring an 85kW fuel cell stack. A 4.2kg hydrogen tank will apparently take a mere five minutes to be refilled.
The other power source, as expected, will be a battery with 62.4kWh of capacity, allowing the N Vision 74 to travel up to 600km on a single charge. Meanwhile, an 800V architecture will allow for fast-charging. The hybrid system, when combined, will power twin motors at the car's rear to churn out a mind-boggling 670bhp (500kW), and more than 900Nm of torque.
Unmistakeable: Giorgetto Giugaro's unique take finds modern cues in the concept car Hyundai says that utilising this particular hybrid system improves cooling efficiency, and that different driving conditions will see the two power sources getting activated in various mixes. The system will also help the coupe to corner more precisely and responsively, thanks to better torque vectoring.
But the real story here, of course, is how the N Vision 74 looks.
Hyundai has been sifting through its history quite a bit in recent memory, and the number '74' isn't arbitrary; it references the unforgettable Hyundai Pony Coupe concept, crafted by legendary car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (also responsible for one famous DeLorean DMC) all the way back in 1974. In particular, note the unique, carried over B-pillar.
Hyundai N's electrified era is all but guaranteed to pack the heat visually and in terms of performance The N Vision 74's design, of course, is tastefully updated for the modern age, featuring Hyundai's Pacman-like Parametric Lighting up front and at the back, not dissimilar to that on the Ioniq 5. It's massive too, measuring close to five metres in length, more than two metres across, and boasting a wheelbase of 2,905mm. (A Ferrari F8 is both shorter and narrower.)
The sheet metal isn't all form and no function, though, since a three channel cooling system has been integrated to fulfill the FCEV's heat management requirements.
Sadly, Hyundai has explicitly added a caveat that the N Vision 74 and RN22e haven't been confirmed for production.
Nonetheless, the concepts are undeniably exciting sparks that hint at the capabilities of the Korean-maker's design and engineering teams. Whatever Hyundai N's electric future may lack in drama sonically, we can at least count on the brand to pack the heat both visually and in terms of performance.
Revealed alongside the all-electric RN22e, the N Vision 74 is a high-performance hybrid "rolling lab" (Hyundai speak for a concept car), but with a twist: It relies on power from a hydrogen fuel cell stack.
The other power source, as expected, will be a battery with 62.4kWh of capacity, allowing the N Vision 74 to travel up to 600km on a single charge. Meanwhile, an 800V architecture will allow for fast-charging. The hybrid system, when combined, will power twin motors at the car's rear to churn out a mind-boggling 670bhp (500kW), and more than 900Nm of torque.
But the real story here, of course, is how the N Vision 74 looks.
Hyundai has been sifting through its history quite a bit in recent memory, and the number '74' isn't arbitrary; it references the unforgettable Hyundai Pony Coupe concept, crafted by legendary car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (also responsible for one famous DeLorean DMC) all the way back in 1974. In particular, note the unique, carried over B-pillar.
The sheet metal isn't all form and no function, though, since a three channel cooling system has been integrated to fulfill the FCEV's heat management requirements.
Sadly, Hyundai has explicitly added a caveat that the N Vision 74 and RN22e haven't been confirmed for production.
Nonetheless, the concepts are undeniably exciting sparks that hint at the capabilities of the Korean-maker's design and engineering teams. Whatever Hyundai N's electric future may lack in drama sonically, we can at least count on the brand to pack the heat both visually and in terms of performance.
