N Vision 74: Envisioning the Future of Hyundai Motor’s
High-Performance N Brand
6 minute read
The N Vision 74, a high-performance hydrogen electric hybrid vehicle, is a car that tells you all about the past, present and future of Hyundai Motor Company. Here is a story about the technology inside the N Vision 74, which aims to deliver driving fun in the future – and beyond the era of electrification.
It is no exaggeration to say that today's sustainable car trend started with the multiple declarations around carbon neutrality goals in countries with major automobile markets. Accordingly, Hyundai’s high-performance N brand focused on electrification for the next stage of internal combustion engines. The automaker made a quicker and bolder investment than any other brand, which resulted in concrete results.
The company has demonstrated its know-how for electric motorsport with its race car the VELOSTER N ETCR, and has been nurturing its electric technology know-how through their *rolling lab – a transportable laboratory – RM20e.
The RN22e, which was unveiled in July of this year, heralded the electrified high-performance experience of the IONIQ 5 N, which will debut in 2023. As such, for the N brand, electrification is no longer a plan for the distant future, but a reality soon to come.
*Rolling lab: A vehicle that conducts R&D and verification before applying high-performance technology inspired by motorsports and specific electrification technologies to mass-produced models.
The N Vision 74 contains technology for the future and has Hyundai's history and heritage of high-performance automobiles.
Here is another result of the sustainable trend – N brand's new rolling lab – the 'N Vision 74'. It differs from the current rolling lab series such as the RM20e and RN22e in several ways. The biggest distinction is that the N Vision 74 is the N brand's first hydrogen-hybrid rolling lab. Another difference – as shown in the core parts of N Vision 74, such as design and technology - is that it contains the past, present, and future of Hyundai, as we want to make sustainable high-performance automobiles.
Above all, the N Vision 74 reflects Hyundai's commitment to developing a sports car that has been going on for decades. What’s more, it is the latest result of the efforts and passion of Hyundai, which has been steadily developing high-performance, hydrogen hybrid vehicles over the past few years. In other words, the N Vision 74 is a high-performance hydrogen-electric hybrid vehicle that encompasses Hyundai's past, present, and future.
Hyundai’s development of
High-Performance Vehicles and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
Before unveiling the N Vision 74, Hyundai was focused on developing high-performance, sustainable vehicles powered by hydrogen for a long time.
The result was unveiled at the launch of the N brand at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in the form of the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept. The technology presented seven years ago was innovative. Breaking away from the prevailing stereotype that the internal combustion engine is the power source for high-performance automobiles, we presented a new concept of a high-performance, sustainable vehicle based on a hydrogen fuel cell.
In 2015, through the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, Hyundai showcased its efforts to develop
high-performance hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The N Vision 74 is the latest drivable product that reflects the efforts and passion of Hyundai as we have been steadily developing high-performance, sustainable hydrogen electric vehicles. But that's not all. When it comes to the N Vision 74, it also has the design and heritage of the 'Pony Coupe Concept,' the first sports car to be produced in Korea that was unveiled in 1974. The important point here is that the Pony Coupe concept was not just a show car to boast its design, but a prototype that was prepared for mass production and imbued with Hyundai’s challenger spirit. Although the model did not go into production in the end, Hyundai's passion for developing high-performance cars is still present in the N Vision 74 today.
The design of the N Vision 74, which pays homage to the design of the Pony Coupe concept, is unique and unconventional.
The N Vision 74 inherits the design and heritage of the Pony Coupe concept
The design of the N Vision 74 is not like previous Hyundai cars, the N brand, or the rolling lab series. This shows the design and heritage of the past Pony Coupe concept. Accordingly, the N Vision 74 boasts a classic yet futuristic look.
At the Turin Motor Show in October 1974, Hyundai presented the Pony Coupe concept, which became the basis of the N Vision 74 design, to the world for the first time. Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ital Design, one of the best car designers of the time, took charge of the design, and Hyundai's engineers poured both effort and passion into this concept.
Aside from the design, the Pony Coupe Concept and the N Vision 74 have many things in common: they share a passion for high-performance cars.
The DNA of the timeless Pony Coupe concept has withstood decades and melted into the design of the N Vision 74. The purity of the Pony Coupe concept, the dynamic proportions of the side silhouette, and the special B-pillar design have been newly inherited by the N Vision 74, with other motorsport-inspired details added too. In particular, the side intake, huge rear wing, and dynamic volume fenders complete the N Vision 74's unique design while hinting at its robust high-performance.
The design DNA of the Pony Coupe concept is instilled everywhere in the N Vision 74.
The N Vision 74 has detailed design elements that reveal its powerful performance.
The front and rear parts also pay homage to the Pony Coupe concept and a future-oriented reinterpretation of it. For example, the rectangular headlamps and rear lamps, the symbols of the Pony Coupe concept, have been reinterpreted with the parametric pixel design, Hyundai's latest design identity. In addition, the N Vision 74's unique design features are perfected by adding a front splitter and a rear diffuser to enhance aerodynamic performance suitable for a high-performance car.
N Vision 74: The Rolling lab, where demonstrates innovative technology that leads the time
In terms of technology and design, the N Vision 74 has an innovative look worthy of the name - rolling lab. Although the N Vision 74 uses a hydrogen-electric hybrid drivetrain, it boasts a system configuration that is different from a general hydrogen fuel cell or battery-based electric vehicle.
Unlike the existing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that uses an integrated hydrogen fuel cell stack and motor, the N Vision 74 separates the two. This is to improve cooling control and airflow and to integrate the driving battery with the body structure. Accordingly, a hydrogen fuel cell stack was mounted on the front axle of the N Vision 74, and a drive motor and two 2.1kg hydrogen tanks were placed on the rear axle. And the battery is arranged in a T-shape in the center of the body.
The N Vision 74 has the advantages of both a hydrogen fuel
cell and a battery-powered vehicle.
The hydrogen-electric hybrid system mounted on the N Vision 74 has a high energy density-to-weight ratio. By combining fuel cell technology – which boasts fast charging in less than 5 minutes – and 800V battery fast charging technology, the charging speed has been improved; which is a major disadvantage of sustainable electric vehicles. And, by using hydrogen fuel cells, the single-charge range is increased when compared to electric vehicles.
The N Vision 74 houses Hyundai Motor Group's latest eco-friendly vehicle technology to promote
fast charging speed and long driving range.
Thanks to the twin-motor torque vectoring control system, the N Vision 74 is able to drift.
Derived from the need to solve the problems of current sustainable high-performance cars, the N Vision 74 gets power from a hydrogen fuel cell with a capacity of 85kW and a driving battery with a capacity of 62.4kWh. The rear wheels are also driven by using two driving motors with maximum output and maximum torque of 500kW (about 680 horsepower) and 900 Nm, respectively.
To maximize the structural advantage of two powerful electric motors mounted on the rear wheel, the N Vision 74 houses the twin motor torque vectoring control system developed through the RM20e. As a result, it was possible to significantly improve turning power and handling performance by distributing power to the rear wheels in an extreme way. It can also drift, which is unusual for hydrogen-powered electric cars.
The N Vision 74 shows an acceleration performance of 100 km/h in 4 seconds and a top speed of
over 250 km/h, and can travel over 600 km.
To effectively use the N Vision 74's new drive system, Hyundai has newly developed a control strategy that integrates fuel cells and batteries. It uses hydrogen fuel as a basic power source and uses the output from the battery as a boost. As a result, the N Vision 74 boasts incredible acceleration, reaching 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds and a top speed of over 250 km/h. While demonstrating such high performance, it has secured a long driving range of more than 600 km by maintaining the remaining battery power through hydrogen power generation.
There is yet another type of technology that stands out from the N Vision 74. Since complex drive systems are required for its high performance, efficient thermal management in harsh driving conditions – such as track driving – is essential. To solve this issue, Hyundai has developed a three-channel independent cooling system that includes a fuel cell stack, a battery, a PE module with motors, and reducers. This enables efficient and fast thermal management, which ensures sustained performance in harsh driving conditions.
The N Vision 74 is equipped with several
practical technologies applicable to
high-performance mass-produced vehicles.
As long as Hyundai and Rolling lab's passion for high-performance cars last, we'll soon be able to see vehicles like the N Vision 74 on the road.
In the meantime, Hyundai Motor Company has introduced many Rolling lab series, but none has received as much attention as the N Vision 74. Its design and powerful performance are attracting attention, as is the fact that these elements may one day be mass-produced. This is because the various advanced technologies and design possibilities of N Vision 74 as a Rolling lab can be reflected in the mass production model. As long as Hyundai and Rolling lab's passion for high-performance cars last, we'll soon be able to see vehicles like the N Vision 74 on the road.
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