Hyundai today unveiled the latest addition to its rolling lab technological experimentation collection, the N Vision 74. Inspired by a car that never was, it shows what Hyundai’s engineers are dreaming up for the future.
It pays homage to the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe, a concept car that was designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro. The fledgling automaker’s vision of what a sports car might have looked like in the mid-1970s, never actually ended up making it into production.
The company is now atoning for that error with this new retrofuturistic model. Part concept car, part technological showcase, we think it could best be referred to as a high concept car because it’s not just a design exercise, it also demonstrates futuristic sci-fi technology that the company’s engineers are hoping to transform into sci-reality.
Hydrogen vehicles haven’t caught on in the same way that pure EVs have, but that isn’t stopping the handful of automakers that advocate for these eco-conscious runabouts. This week, Hyundai is unveiling its N Vision 74 prototype at the Busan International Motor Show, giving us a glimpse at what a hydrogen-powered sports car could look like.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles have been a tough sell so far, and so we aren’t expecting a production version of this vehicle in the near term. However, Hyundai is talking about running a working prototype at the world-famous Nürburgring to demonstrate its hydrogen prowess. Not only does the Hyundai N Vision 74 prototype look cool, but it’s also projected to go from 0 mph to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds with a range in excess of 370 miles.
At 194.9 inches in length, the N Vision 74 is around 7 inches longer than a Lamborghini Aventador and it’s about as tall as a Porsche 911, but its wheelbase is nearly as long as the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It’s a superb mix of retro Pony cues and modern details, with the overall silhouette and roofline being an almost identical match to the Pony Coupe. The pointed front end has a deep splitter and a slim grille with Hyundai’s signature pixel lights, which are also used at the rear.
The boxed fenders are massively flared and have big intakes, and the intense ground effects kit includes a complex diffuser and deep side skirts. There are awesome louvers on the back window, a big rear wing, turbofan-style wheels, and a host of other cool details. It looks like a race car from Blade Runner, but it’s also restrained and refined. The retro design is immediately apparent, but the N Vision 74 stands on its own merit too. And it looks even better in person.
Hyundai is being coy about the N Vision 74’s future, saying only that its underlying technology could be used in a future vehicle and that this car as it sits is “not confirmed for commercial production.” Given the current state of hydrogen refueling worldwide, it’s not a surprise, but it’s a hell of a disappointment. We don’t care what powertrain Hyundai shoves under the hood. We want a production version of this thing. Now.
