Hyundai N74 sports car draws closer with Aussie trademark

The stunning Hyundai N Vision 74 concept has taken a big step closer to reality with the Korean brand’s move to trademark the ‘Hyundai N74’ nameplate in several key global markets, including Australia.

The on-again, off-again saga of the hydrogen-powered coupe’s production chances have been keenly observed this year with reports initially claiming the project was on before company executives engaged in a seesawing battle of flat denials and implied confirmations.

Now it seems it’s only a matter of time before the innovative sports car, which blends hydrogen fuel-cell with battery-electric technology, is confirmed for production.

Given the complexity of its powertrain and the sex appeal of its retro-inspired body, it’s more than likely the Hyundai N74 will be released as a limited-edition and cost a lot more than the company’s EV flagship, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, which starts from $111,000.

The nameplate submission was filed with IP Australia on Tuesday, September 19 exclusively under Class 12, which covers automobiles, sports cars, vans, motor trucks, motor buses and electric vehicles.

It doesn’t guarantee a production model, but the chances are high, and so we’ll now wait for Hyundai’s next move with the N Vision 74 concept that debuted in July last year as much more than merely a show car.

A rolling prototype, the 74 is underpinned by a modified Kia Stinger platform and features an advanced zero-emissions powertrain producing more than 500kW and 900Nm of torque.

A 62.4kWh lithium-ion battery and modest-sized hydrogen tank provide a combined range of more than 600km, with the latter able to be refuelled in less than five minutes.

Drive is provided exclusively to the rear wheels by a pair of axle-mounted electric motors which draw current from the battery pack in low-speed and urban applications, the fuel cell at higher speeds and a combination of both for maximum performance.

Hyundai N boss Till Wartenberg was the most recent high-ranking executive to voice support of the N Vision 74 reaching production, telling carsales in July the car was a favourite of the N staff and that his “personal wish” was to “see that car in the near future on the street”.

“The design is stunning. The technology represents what we could do in the long run, as it is a hybrid battery-hydrogen system with a Nexo fuel-cell stack inside, and of course we’re developing that stack as well for the future,” he said.

“I hope it comes true, but let’s see if it does.”

Hyundai chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke has also supported the sports car, declaring in May he hates “show business” and doesn’t design a vehicle for merely display purposes.

“We are serious about this,” he told Top Gear. “This could come into production.”

Local Hyundai executives are staying tight-lipped on the matter for the time being.

Watch this space…

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