Over the last few years Hyundai has been making some fantastic cars, ever since the company hired an ex-BMW employee the company has been out there competing with the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. The underdog organisation has come a long way from making terrible cars, and it seems like their glow-up is only going to get better with their latest unveiling. The N Vision 74.
Now, it may only be a concept but how I hope that they go on to manufacture this piece of engineering. Vision 74 was unveiled at N Day back in 2022, an event organised by the brand in South Korea. The N Vision 74 is a rear-wheel-drive coupe driven by two electric traction motors and was developed so Hyundai can also learn more about a “virtual differential” since the car has two separate 335 bhp motors with no physical connection between the rear wheels.
Interestingly enough the N Vision 74 was inspired by the Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept from 1974, and the underlying technologies were inspired by the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo 2015 car. The drivetrain however and the electric motors were co-developed with Rimac (yes, the same manufacturer that brought the C1 and C2 electric hypercars). Funny enough the entire platform for the N Vision 74 is based on the Kia Stinger. Albert Biermann, the former BMW M Division lead who has now since retired but will continue to advise Hyundai stated to Autocar “that the project car was derived from a Kia Stinger. The whole idea started with a different brand. It wasn’t a Hyundai N thing at all, it was for the Genesis luxury brand. But then we said this is a lot of complicated stuff, so we have to build a mecha-proto – that’s what we call a prototype built on an existing car – and then apply the new systems. We realised the Stinger was the closest in terms of size.”
Performance wise we already know it’s equipped with 2 electric motors both fitted to the rear axle, developing a combined power output of 670 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. 0-62 mph will take about four seconds, and onto a top speed of over 160 mph. It might not be the fastest electric car out there, but it sure as hell is probably one of the coolest. The N Vision 74 was created to celebrate Hyundai’s roots and pays its respects displaying how far the automotive brand has come.
Unfortunately, Hyundai has since decided to scrap the project due to the selling cost of the car. As the senior directors at Hyundai believe the asking price of £150,000 would be too high for a Hyundai badged model, yet the N Vision 74 shares the same wheelbase as the Genesis X Speedium Coupe and production cost can be lowered as the car’s components are largely derived from production vehicles. To be honest, I think £150,000 is an exclusive asking price but it’s the history and the technological advancements you pay for, there are people out there that would pay £100,000 for a VW Golf now that is ridiculous. But for the N Vision 74, to the right buyer and car fanatic they wouldn’t bat an eye. So please Hyundai, build this beauty and restore faith in the automotive world.
Images:
https://www.hyundai-n.com/en/models/rolling-lab/n-vision-74.do
Bleeding Edge Digital 