► Hyundai Intium concept car revealed
► Hydrogen fuel cell power, retro looks
► Previews a 2025 production model
This is the Intium – a hydrogen fuel cell concept car from Hyundai. This bold, retro-looking SUV is a preview to a future FCEV from the brand, which will succeed the NEXO in 2025.
As well as sending a message that Hyundai is still pushing hydrogen fuel cell development, the Intium is the first car to debut Hyundai’s ‘art of steel’ design language. As you can tell, it still looks fantastically retro-futuristic, in keeping with models like the Ioniq 5 and Santa Fe. There are lots of boxy details, like bold DRLs and a set of four dots on the ‘grille’ arrangement at the front. Did you know that the four dots used by Hyundai are actually Morse code for the letter ‘H’?
The rear end looks a lot like the Pontiac Aztek, too. But, in this case, that’s not an insult; Hyundai has shaped the rear with a tall hatchback design and steeply angled rear window to keep that boxy shape going. Aerodynamic 18-inch wheels are designed to help keep driving range up, while camera mirrors and a bulky roof rack complete the package.
Even with the bold design, though, the focus is what’s underneath. Hyundai says it has a pair of hydrogen fuel tanks, battery pack and an electric motor developing 201bhp. The brand is also targeting a driving range of around 400 miles, which would make the resulting production car from the Intium concept on par with its NEXO predecessor in terms of range.
As with electric cars, Hyundai says it has developed navigation that can calculate the optimum route based on the (borderline imaginary) hydrogen filling station infrastructure. And, given this is a chunky SUV designed for the family, neat details like vehicle-to-load technology and a second row with ‘a large reclining angle for increased comfort’ feature.
We’ll see a production model spun out of the Hyundai Intium concept in 2025.