Hyundai N Vision 74 Hydrogen Concept: Everything We Know So Far (2024)

Hyundai's journey from a mere budget-friendly manufacturer into a design virtuoso and engineering magician has been nothing short of impressive. While the name has yet to be associated with the company's new creative trajectory, we expect that to change as the Korean carmaker keeps introducing more visually daring and mechanically impressive offerings into the EV scene, where its ingenious touch shines the brightest.

Amid this new momentum, the company has introduced the Hyundai N Vision 74, a two-door track racer, powered by an electric-hydrogen setup. Looking like something straight out of Back To The Future, and being inspired by a former Hyundai chef d'oeuvre, the N Vision 74 was bound to turn heads.

The racetrack-specific N badging is the icing on the cake, and results in over 600 horsepower, while the fuel-cell tank results in a whopping 370 miles of range, which exceeds the Model Y Long Range. Being a product of Hyundai's Rolling Lab program, the N Vision 74 is more than just an eccentric concept. Rather, it was built to test and showcase the company's technological potential, which has led many to clamor for a production model in the future. In the meantime, here's everything we know so far.

A Racetrack Juggernaut With 370 Miles Of Range

The Korean manufacturer refers to the N Vision 74 concept as a hydrogen-electric hybrid vehicle. This is due to the particular dynamic of the powertrain, which gets electricity from both a hydrogen fuel cell, combined with a 62.4-kWh battery that can be plugged in and recharged the way it would in a regular EV. To word it differently, the hybrid EV gets its pep from two rear-mounted electric motors, which are in turn fed by the electric battery pack, which is fed by the hydrogen fuel cell.

The overall result is an impressive 670 horsepower, coupled with 664 pound-feet of torque, The two separate 235 kW (335 horsepower) are conveniently mounted on each rear wheel to provide a cornering experience that befits the prestigious N-badging.

Hyundai N Vision 74 Performance Specs

(Specs sourced from Hyundai)

Rather than being a direct source of power, the hydrogen stack acts as an onboard charger that contributes to the overall range, which, according to Hyundai, extends to 370 miles on a full battery and 9.3 pounds of hydrogen in the twin tanks. This figure is scarcely matched, or exceeded by other offerings in the e-segment.

To top it off, the N Vision 74 also offers an 800-volt charging capability, and can be replenished to 80 percent in a matter of five minutes, which is unparalleled in the EV industry, even by the most potent models. Shorter refueling times are one of the best selling points for hydrogen vehicles, and the N Vision 74 utilizes that to perfection.

The N Vision 74 Boasts A Retro-futuristic Design

The N Vision 74 carries a rich and vibrant legacy across its exterior design. The overall styling, strongly reminiscent of the DeLorean time machine from Back To The Future, is in fact a celebration of the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept. The latter was designed by the renowned Giorgetto Giugiaro, but never translated into a production model.

When Hyundai design chief SangYup Lee was tasked with honing the N Vision 74, he saw it as an opportunity to honor that heritage, and spent years trying to do just that. “I wanted a car that celebrated Hyundai’s roots.” says Lee.

The retro-looking, partly electric race car was obviously far from a first rodeo for the industry veteran, whose design work includes the 2010 Chevy Camaro and the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept from 2015. SangYup is also the design mastermind behind the Hyundai Ioniq 7 Concept, which has garnered a huge interest online.

The Cabin Is Minimalistic

On the inside, the N Vision 74 preserves its retro aspect. What should be an outdated cabin is instead a welcome dose of nostalgia amid today’s suffocating trend of plain, minimalist, and so-called “futuristic” interiors. The dashboard adapts a driver-centric approach, resulting in a striking resemblance with the old-school Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept.

The center console looks rather clean and polished, while a full-width infotainment screen seamlessly finds its place behind the sporty, N-badged steering wheel. And yet, the N Vision 74 boasts the potential to exceed its predecessor, instead of simply paying tribute.

Hyundai N Vision 74 Dimensions

(Dimensions sourced from Hyundai)

It Is Worthy Of The N Logo

When Motor Trend took the N Vision 74 for a test drive, they found it nicely mounted on The Pirelli P Zero tires—270/35R20s up front and 315/30R21s at the back. While the 5,450 pounds of weight can seem counterproductive for a vehicle meant to swiftly move around the racetrack, the engineers claimed that a production version would be much lighter.

We hope these claims are true, considering the concept version of two-door hydrogen-hybrid weighs more than the Hyundai Ioniq 5,which is a family SUV meant for everyday commutes. Nonetheless, despite its voluminous size, the N Vision 74 was reported to be quite nimble.

The team notably mentioned the hydrogen race tracker's stability and sharp responsiveness around the corners, courtesy of its lower center of gravity, which is to be expected from any vehicle bearing the N mark. The review further cited the need for a few software fixes, notably including the power cut-out switch, which stifled acceleration. These details are obviously inconsequential, considering how there's still no clear indication we'll see the N Vision 74 cruising down the street.

If not, we can always hope to see its potential unfold in competition, for which the Hyundai N panoply is perfectly suited. The leader of the sporty sub-brand, Til Wartenberg, was of a similar mind when discussing his aspiration for the concept car. "The fuel cell idea in the N Vision 74 has a lot of potential to go endurance racing. I wouldn't be doing my job if I said I'm not thinking about it for the Le Mans 24 and other endurance races", he said.

Hyundai Has Given A Green Signal To Produce This Car

More than just a salute to the past, the hydrogen-fueled concept car carries a lot of production and near-production hardware at its core. It remains to be seen how many features would be kept in the potential production model, which Motor Trend wagers will be at a base price of $160,000, by 2026 at the earliest. Such speculations have also been echoed by Car And Driver.

A price range near that bracket would unfortunately be far from groundbreaking in the FCEV industry, which is characterized by its pricey offerings. Even the more modest, hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo comes at $60,135.

It is important to emphasize that we have more than just hallway gossip to work with, but also words from project members themselves. When asked if the N Vision 74 would hit the market, Hyundai’s chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke, told Top Gear “We are serious about this. This could come into production. We have the platform - it’s a motorsport platform.” Till Wartenberg—Hyundai's vice president of N brand management and motorsport, also made similar comments to the Autopian.