Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered performance saloon coming next month

Hyundai is all set to host the Hydrogen Wave global forum online on September 7, and here it seems like the company will unveil its first hydrogen fuel cell saloon. The forum is set to be hosted online and streamed live on the Group’s YouTube channel. In anticipation of that event, the group has also released three teaser videos showing the upcoming car in camouflage.

Performance saloon details

The car is seen doing laps of a track, suggesting its performance orientation, but the important thing is that it is doing those laps sideways. This means we can expect a rear-wheel-drive configuration or even an all-wheel-drive with drift mode functionality.

Hyundai hydrogen saloon screen shot
The Hyundai fuel-cell model teased looks like a compact saloon similar to a BMW 3 Series. Image: Youtube/Hyundai Motor Group

However, from the teaser, the new car seems to be a Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series sized saloon with rear doors, hinting that it will have the virtues of a mass-market Hyundai car. The look is pretty sleek, too. From what is available under that camouflage, we see a fairly aggressive design featuring a long bonnet with sleek headlamps and a roof that slopes gently into the back, suggesting a very coupe-esque design ending in an upturned boot lip that is reminiscent of a spoiler. Of course, we will have to wait for the unveiling actually to see what this looks like.

Other reveals planned for the forum

The saloon isn’t the only thing planned for September 7, however, as it looks like the company is also looking at a freight truck concept. At least that is according to one of the teasers released by the company. According to the press release issued by Hyundai Motor Group on August 26, the website that Hyundai also launched (hydrogen-wave.com) provides a glimpse into some of the products and technologies that the company will unveil at the event.

Forum details

The press release further states that September 7 online forum will then turn into a physical exhibition. The Hydrogen Wave exhibition will take place between September 8 to September 11 in the city of Goyang in South Korea. Hyundai plans to unveil future products and its business plans and strategies surrounding the hydrogen fuel cell even beyond the automotive space at the forum.

Hyundai is a key player in hydrogen fuel cell tech, dominating the global FCEV segment with the Nexo SUV. In 2015, the company showcased the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered performance car capable of 872 hp. The same year also saw a hydrogen-powered ix35, and in 2018, the company launched the hydrogen-electric Nexo SUV, which has sold more than 10,000 units in S.Korea as of Oct 2020.

Featured image source: YouTube/Hyundai Motor Group