One thing concerning the Hyundai N Imaginative and prescient 74 fuel-cell electrical idea automobile evokes a particular sort of collective craving. There have been a number of speculative reviews of the car going into manufacturing, adopted by a number of responses from Hyundai executives that, “No, it isn’t.” The starvation even exists inside the corporate, the automaker’s chief inventive officer and head of the N model administration and motorsport saying in their very own methods they’d wish to see greater than an idea. Onerous to know whether or not this newest declare is extra collective delusion, however Korean outlet ET Information (translated) writes that there shall be a manufacturing model arriving within the first half of 2026.
ETNews says, “The potential for mass manufacturing of the N Imaginative and prescient 74 has been raised a number of instances, however that is the primary time it has truly been confirmed,” with out offering a supply for the affirmation, not even the well-traveled “firm insider.”
Thus far, so one thing, it appears. And it will get higher.
Fanatics nonetheless love imagining automakers making an attempt to revive some sort of reasonably priced, maybe-not-as-lightweight Nineteen Nineties Japanese coupe to the market, e.g., the Honda Prelude and Toyota FT-Se ideas. Based mostly on the Korean information, the N Imaginative and prescient 74 will not be that. The coupe’s anticipated to make 800 horsepower from its hydrogen gasoline cell coronary heart, an output triple soar past the 680 hp within the idea. No phrase on whether or not meaning sticking to 2 motors on the rear axle and making every extra highly effective, or one thing else. Such output might get the dash to 62 miles per hour down to 3 seconds. Vary will shrink because of this, from an estimated 600 kilometers to an estimated 400 to 500 kilometers.
Moreover, ETNews writes that Hyundai plans to construct simply 100 vehicles. Seventy of them shall be bought to most of the people — by “common” we imply those that paid their method to the entrance of the traces — the remainder shall be campaigned in splashy race sequence’ within the U.S. and Europe.
The tiny manufacturing run is smart contemplating the ability supply. SNE Analysis discovered the Hyundai Nexo FCEV to be the best-selling hydrogen-powered car on the earth final 12 months, its 10,700 models bought globally marking a 57% share of the 18,457 whole international FCEV gross sales. Hyundai Group’s arguably doing extra work than the Japanese to advertise hydrogen outdoors the house nation, although, not solely promoting the Nexo FCEV right here, but additionally operating a fleet of its hydrogen-powered Xcient FCEV Class 8 vehicles on the port of Oakland, California, and constructing hydrogen services at its coming Georgia plant with plans to run FCEV provide vehicles from the plant to the port.
Hyundai Chairman Chung Eui-sun supposedly needs the N Imaginative and prescient 74 on the highway and the monitor to showcase Hyundai’s capabilities and “to solidify its management in electrification expertise.” The automaker is “discussing plans with companions” for the time being, we’re advised.
Hyundai’s taken what may very well be thought of steps in that path, making use of to trademark the title “Hyundai N74” in Europe and in Australia. It is also utilized for patents on a hydrogen gasoline cell setup that appears just like the setup within the idea, though drawn in patent paperwork inside a Kia Stinger. Contemplating the testing and improvement a manufacturing N74 would want to fulfill Hyundai’s goals and people of certified race groups, if ETNews is appropriate, this one cannot keep secret for lengthy.