The hydrogen FCEV is a retro (and much better) Pontiac Aztek

► Presented Hyundai Intium concept car
► Energy on hydrogen fuel cells, retro look
► Preview of the 2025 production model

This is Intium, a Hyundai concept car powered by hydrogen fuel cells. This bold retro SUV is a preview of the future FCEV from the brand that would become successful NEXO in 2025.

In addition to Hyundai’s continued development of hydrogen fuel cells, the Intium is the first vehicle 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 plenty of boxy details, such as the bright DRLs and a set of four dots on the ‘grille’ up front. Did you know that the four dots used by Hyundai are actually Morse code for the letter “H”?

The rear is also very similar to the Pontiac Aztek. But in this case it is not an insult; Hyundai shaped the rear with a tall hatchback design and a steeply angled rear window to maintain that boxy shape. Aerodynamic 18-inch wheels are designed to increase range, while camera mirrors and a bulky roof rack complete the package.

However, even with a bold design, the focus is on what’s underneath. Hyundai says it has a pair of hydrogen fuel tanks, a battery pack and an electric motor that develops 201 hp. The brand is also targeting a range of around 400 miles, which would put the 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 optimal route based on the (limited imaginary) infrastructure of hydrogen gas stations. And considering it’s a chunky SUV designed for the family, neat details like bootloader technology and a second row with a ‘large reclining angle for increased comfort’ feature.

In 2025, we will see a production model based on the Hyundai Intium concept.