Hyundai Group won two categories at the ‘2022 Top Gear Awards’ held by the British automotive media powerhouse, Top Gear: ‘Popular Vehicle of the Year’ and ‘Car Manufacturer of the Year’.

The BBC’s Top Gear magazine selected Hyundai’s N Vision 74 as the ‘Popular Vehicle of the Year’ and Kia as the ‘Car Manufacturer of the Year’.

The Popular Vehicle of the Year award won by the N Vision 74 is given to products that capture attention with bold technological innovations and gain significant popularity.

Unveiled in July this year by Hyundai’s high-performance brand N, the N Vision 74 is a hydrogen hybrid Rolling Lab vehicle, showcasing Hyundai’s vision for the future through the joy of sustainable driving and bold design.

Hyundai conducts research and development and validation using Rolling Lab vehicles before reflecting high-performance technologies inspired by motorsports in mass-produced models.

Top Gear stated, “Through the N Vision 74, we could glimpse the momentum for Hyundai’s past design and future high-performance vehicle development, showing that the brand has demonstrated confidence in Korean automotive manufacturing with the N Vision 74.”

The N Vision 74, inspired by the 1974 Pony Coupe concept, is designed with a hybrid system combining a battery motor and a hydrogen fuel cell, achieving a maximum output of 500kW, a peak torque of 900Nm, a top speed of 250 km/h, and a range of 600 km on a single charge, developed to maximize synergy between the two different power sources.

Kia, selected as the Car Manufacturer of the Year, received praise for successfully leading market reactions with various eco-friendly models, including the EV6 GT, across Europe.

Kia’s best-selling vehicles across Europe—the new Sportage and Niro—have gained popularity, not only for their outstanding exterior and interior designs but also for their impressive lineup of eco-friendly vehicle options.

Jack Ricks, Editor of BBC Top Gear, noted, “Despite the economic downturn in the European market, Kia’s recent upward trend is astonishing,” emphasizing that the new Sportage offers superior performance compared to competitors, while the new Niro stands out with its unique design and diverse eco-friendly lineup. He also stated, “Kia is set to establish itself as a leading brand in the automotive market during the electrification era.”

Kia previously announced targets for sustainability through its Plan S strategy, which includes a lineup of 14 electric vehicle models by 2027. Accordingly, the company launched the EV6 last year, and this year, they introduced the Niro EV and the EV6 GT.

Next year, they plan to unveil a large SUV model, EV9, built on the dedicated electric vehicle platform E-GMP, aiming to usher in a new era of sustainable mobility.

A representative from Hyundai Group stated, “It is an honor to be recognized in two categories by a world-renowned automotive media outlet, and we are pleased to achieve a significant outcome where both our technology and company are acknowledged in the fiercely competitive global market.”

Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr