Hyundai N Vision 74: A Hydrogen-Powered 'Rolling Lab' That's Actually Happening
Image Credit: Hyundai.
Well, folks, Hyundai's about to take us on a wild ride. Remember that crazy N Vision 74 concept that looked like it was plucked straight out of a sci-fi movie? It's not just a pipe dream anymore. Hyundai's actually going to build the darn thing.
Two years ago, we saw Hyundai's CEO, looking like a race car driver in a suit, grinning ear-to-ear as he took the N Vision 74 for a spin at the Nurburgring. It made noises that no electric car should, and it was the first time we laid eyes on this futuristic beast.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
This thing is a tribute to the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe, a car designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, the man behind icons like the DeLorean and the VW Golf. But unlike the Pony, the N Vision 74 is a retro-modern masterpiece with sharp lines, a massive rear spoiler, and headlights that look like they're about to laser you into oblivion.
But it's what's under the hood that's truly mind-boggling. Hyundai calls it a "hydrogen hybrid," which is like saying you have a pet that's half cat, half unicorn.
At the back, there's an 800-volt electric powertrain with two motors that churn out a combined 670 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. All that power goes to the rear wheels, so you can imagine the smoky donuts this thing can pull off. And when the 62.4 kWh battery runs low, you can just plug it in like a regular EV.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
Now, here's where it gets weird. At the front, there's an 85 kW hydrogen fuel-cell stack fed by two 4.6-pound hydrogen tanks tucked away in the back. You can refill those tanks in five minutes flat, giving you a total range of 372 miles. This thing can hit 155 mph and go from 0 to 62 mph in four seconds. To keep things cool, Hyundai installed separate cooling systems for the fuel cell, the battery, and the electric motors. Talk about overkill.
Look, hydrogen fuel cells have their advantages, like long-ish driving range and quick refueling. But the lack of infrastructure has held them back. Lately, we've seen more promise in motorsports and commercial vehicles, so carmakers aren't throwing in the towel just yet.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
Hyundai hasn't spilled the beans on the production version's name or launch date. But we do know it'll be one of 21 new electric models they're planning to launch by 2030. Hyundai snuck the news into a slide during their annual CEO and Investor Day presentation, calling the N Vision 74 one of their future "high-performance EVs." Some sources suggest production could start as early as 2026 and that R&D is already underway. We're expecting to see camouflaged prototypes on the road sooner rather than later.
Rumors suggest Hyundai might build the N Vision 74 in extremely limited numbers, with only 100 units planned (70 for the road, 30 for racing). Some reports claim the production N Vision 74 could make as much as 800 hp from its hydrogen-electric powertrain. Others say it'll be closer to 775 hp. Either way, this thing is going to be insanely fast.
This has to be the best news of this summer. The Hyundai N Vision 74 is no longer just a concept car. It's a real, tangible thing that's going to hit the streets (and maybe the racetracks) in the not-too-distant future. And I don't care whether it's powered by hydrogen or electricity, or both. All I care about is that it's going to be a wild ride.
