Peter Lyon
September 1, 2024
Recall that retro-meets-future Hyundai N Vision 74? What a sight for sore eyes! Our initial impression of it, back in 2022, was that the car appeared to be a mere concept model and hinted strongly at a “DeLorean reboot.”
It now appears likely that Hyundai has decided to put the N Vision 74 into production.
In the carmaker’s 2024 CEO Investor Day presentation recently, Hyundai referred to the N Vision 74 in a slide detailing its plans for 21 EV models to be launched by 2030, mentioning it as part of the “High-performance EV” segment together with its Genesis Magma models.
The inclusion of other products like the Casper “affordable EV,” mass-market EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq range, as well as the luxury lineup from Genesis, does at least lend some credence to the “rumour,” even though executives did not mention the model names in their speeches.
Will the N Vision 74 be hydrogen-powered?
We first saw the Hyundai N Vision 74 concept around 2 years ago. Back then it was intended as a hydrogen-battery hybrid, with two electric motors on the rear wheels generating 680 horsepower and 900 Nm of torque.
Since 2030 is only about five years away, and since there aren’t many commercial hydrogen fuel stations yet, we assume that the hydrogen-based powertrain will be dropped in favour of a more “traditional” battery EV setup with larger battery packs, given that it was mentioned in the slide for Hyundai’s future EV line-up.
However, no one would really care if it was hydrogen-powered, especially if it had an electric drivetrain similar to that of the Ioniq 5 N. It’s based on the Pony Coupe concept from 1974, although most people will associate it more with the DMC DeLorean since Italian legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro recycled many of his styling touches into the Back to the Future hero car after the original Korean concept was shelved.
With its rectangular lighting, boxy, straight body lines, and the recognisable wedge shape that Giugiaro rated so highly, the likeness is striking (BMW M1, Lotus Esprit). Employing a large rear wing and contemporary light signatures, it has unquestionably matured; especially when you think that the original design is already fifty years old.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Hyundai has big plans for this car and other electrified models. During that CEO Investor Day, the brand discussed plans to increase the number of hybrid and range-extending EV models in addition to EVs. By 2030, the corporation hopes to increase its EV sales to two million annually worldwide, out of a target of five million. Now wouldn’t that be something?
