Hyundai Motor Company has embarked on an initiative to promote ‘Hyundai Heritage’ to luxury car enthusiasts at Italy’s leading classic and concept car exhibition.
Hyundai showcased the hydrogen hybrid rolling lab ‘N Vision 74’, a high-performance N brand vehicle, at the globally recognized classic and concept car exhibition ‘Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023’, held from May 19 to 21 (local time) in Lake Como, Italy. A rolling lab refers to a vehicle used for research and development and validation before applying high-performance technology, driven by motorsport expertise, to production models.
The ‘Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este’, meaning ‘a competition of elegance held at the Villa d’Este’, is a historic classic and concept car exhibition that started in 1929 and is held annually in Italy, featuring exhibitions and competitions in categories including ▲ Historic Cars ▲ Concept Cars & Prototypes ▲ Motorcycles.
Genesis, the luxury brand of Hyundai, participated in 2018, showcasing the ‘Essentia Concept’, making this Hyundai’s first appearance.
The ‘N Vision 74’ was developed inspired by the Pony Coupe Concept, Hyundai’s first domestic concept car introduced at the 1974 Turin Motor Show. The technology, design, and high-performance feelings encapsulated in this model reflect the passion and bold spirit of Hyundai employees at the time, who wished to advance into a global brand.
At the same time, ‘N Vision 74’ embodies the future vision of the high-performance N brand, looking beyond electrification to provide ‘the joy of driving’ even in an eco-friendly era.
‘N Vision 74’ features a hybrid system that combines a battery motor with hydrogen fuel cells. It boasts no power loss even in harsh motorsport environments and has a quick charging time of around five minutes.
The vehicle features an 85kW hydrogen fuel cell stack at the front, a 62kWh lithium-ion battery situated between the driver and passenger seats, and two hydrogen tanks with a capacity of 2.1 kg located at the rear.
Dual independent motors mounted on the rear wheels produce an output of 680 horsepower, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from a stop to 100 km/h in under four seconds. The driving range approaches 600 km.
Visually, ‘N Vision 74’ is characterized by a wedge-shaped nose that drew global attention at the unveiling of the ‘Pony Coupe Concept’, along with geometric lines reminiscent of origami.
It also inherits the ‘Pony Coupe Concept’s unique pure surfaces, dynamic proportions, and B-pillar design.
True to its high-performance nature, the body is aerodynamically reinterpreted, and specially designed high-performance wheels create a perfect harmony of engineering and design.
Furthermore, the parametric pixel design that merges analog and digital elements in the headlights and taillights symbolizes Hyundai’s design journey from the past to the future.
Hyundai Motor Group CCO Luc Donckerwolke expressed, “It is a great honor to participate in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, symbolizing the amazing journey Hyundai has taken to reach this position.” He underscored the significance of this exhibition.
He added, “Cars are transforming from simple means of transportation to mobility platforms that expand human lifestyles, and what used to be mere imagination is becoming a reality. Hyundai will position itself at the center of design innovation to pave the way for new forms of future mobility, drawing inspiration from its unique heritage.”
Vice President Lee Sang-yeop, head of Hyundai’s design center, stated, “It is a great honor to participate in a prestigious event held in Italy, which marked the starting point of design heritage while searching for the roots of Hyundai’s design DNA. The ‘N Vision 74’ is a tribute to past efforts and our declaration for the future, embodying the bold spirit of the Pony Coupe Concept and realizing the dreams of engineers who aimed to create Korea’s first sports car with forward-thinking designs.”
Through the ‘N Vision 74’, Hyundai expects to share its heritage in the heart of the automotive industry in Europe and strengthen its brand identity.
Meanwhile, on May 18 (local time), Hyundai held its inaugural ‘Hyundai Reunion’ event in Lake Como to introduce its unique heritage and future vision, unveiling a model restored to the original form of the Pony Coupe Concept for the first time.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr