They’ll build it. They’ll build it not. The fate of the retro-futuristic Hyundai N Vision 74 concept has been a source of constant debate since it was first unveiled in July 2022. The automaker subsequently insisted the show car was never going to see the light of day. Now, however, it’s starting to look like a production version really is in the works, at least based on what came out during the automaker’s latest Investor Day event.
A chart shown during Hyundai’s Investors Day event listed the N (vision 74( in its high performance category.
The Hyundai N Vision 74 concept created quite a stir when it made its debut two years ago. The show car served a variety of purposes, among other things serving as an homage to the automaker’s original Pony model – or, more precisely, the striking 1974 Pony concept penned by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.
Not only did the N Vision 74 suggest what the Giugiaro concept might look like today but it also offered up an indication of what Hyundai could do with a hydrogen-electric hybrid drivetrain geared for performance, rather than energy efficiency.
Despite plenty of speculation, Hyundai officials brushed off the idea of a actually pulling together a production version of the concept. Until now, anyway. During an Investors Day event, Hyundai officials this past week announced plans to launch 21 electrified models by 2030. Intentionally or not, they included a direct reference to the N Vision 74 concept as part of a high-performance family.
N Vision 74
The N Vision 74 concept was designed to use a hydrogen fuel-cell/hybrid drivetrain.
The N Vision 74 is, quite literally, a Pony car, a concept based on the Korean carmaker’s original model line, the 1974 Hyundai Pony. The squared-off production vehicle was penned by Giugiaro who was then tasked with coming up with a much more exotic design.
Hyundai never put the coupe prototype into production. And Giugiaro went on to use the show car as influence for other products, including the DeLorean DMC-12 made famous in the “Back to the Future” trilogy. Ironically, the stainless steel-bodied sports car borrowed some of the Pony Coupe Concept’s more recognizable features, including the wedge nose and sweeping roofline.
“Please don’t say there’s a resemblance to the DeLorean, because we did it first,” Hyundai styling chief Sangyup Lee said at the debut of the N Vision 74 in July 2022.
Will they build it?
The original Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept made its debut at the Turin Motor Show in 1974.
At the time, Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and Hyundai’s Customer Experience Division chief, said the N Vision 74 would play “an important role in the strategic development of our entire product lineup, especially our electrified, high-performance vehicles.”
But unlike the equally radical RN22e that was introduced alongside it, the N Vision 74 used a radical powertrain design, a hydrogen fuel-cell system paired with a 72.4 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.
Based on initial comments made at its debut, the widespread belief was that Hyundai would put N Vision 74 into production. But, barely a week later, Hyundai threw a bucket of cold water over the speculation, a senior official stating, “We currently have no plan for a commercial production of the Pony Coupe Concept.”
More Hyundai News
- 2025 Hyundai Ioniq XRT Gives EV Some Off-Road Chops
- 3-Row Ioniq Seven Concept Will Debut in Production Form as Ioniq 9
- Hyundai Adding More Hybrids, PHEVs to Balance Out EV Line-Up
Maybe they will, after all
The original Hyundai Pony debuted in 1974.
During this part week’s Investor Day, Hyundai officials rolled out a series of slides including one stating, “EV Full Lineup: Provide customers with a wide range of options from mass-market to luxury/high-performance models.” It was followed by another – seen here – outlining plans to launch 21 electrified models by 2030.
While it was not included among four pictures of Hyundai models, the last category “High Performance EV” made reference to two future models, including not only the Genesis Magma coming to market next year but what was called the Hyundai N (vision 74).
Why the peculiar spelling, so far Hyundai is offering up any answers. Nor has it followed up with details on what may, indeed, be a production version of the original N Vision 74. But the presentation has raised a lot of eyebrows – and triggered a revival of the rumors and speculation that followed the concept’s original debut two years ago.
What would it be?
If Hyundai really is going to produce the N Vision 74 that raises plenty of questions. To start with: what exactly would it be? The automaker has been a big fan of hydrogen fuel-cell technology, currently found in the Nexo crossover. To live up to its billing as a performance vehicle, a real world model would require significant upgrades. That is certainly do-able.
But what would it be based on? The 2022 show car relied on a modified version of the Kia Stinger platform, rather than the dedicated E-GMP architecture underpinning the Ioniq 5 and 6 EVs, as well as the Ioniq 9 coming later this year.
As for production, Hyundai is shifting some EV production – starting with the Ioniq 5 – from Korea to its new factory in Savannah, Georgia. Would that “mega-plant” handle the N (vision 74)?
We’ll report more as we find out just what Hyundai has in store.
I see little of the Porsche 944 in it.