My FH5 Log: Never Just Drive

In 2015, Hyundai announced a new high-performance brand called N. Born in Namyang, Honed at Nurburgring, that's what N is made for.

Nearly a decade has passed and the Hyundai N project spawned numerous high-performance offerings such as this...

This is the Hyundai Veloster N, the first Hyundai N car sold in South Korea. Based on the second-generation Veloster that was launched in 2018, it features specially made suspension geometry and tuning, not to mention the N Power Sense Axle, track-focused N mode on the suspension setup, N Corner-Carving Limited-slip Differential, and N Grin Control System drive mode selection system. The 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine produces up to 275PS of power output and mated exclusively with a close-ratio, short-throw six-speed manual transmission with downshift rev-matching capability. Two years later, an available 8-speed double-clutch gearbox was added.

Next up is the Kona N. The first and only high-performance crossover SUV from the N range. Based on the facelifted first-generation Kona, it features unique N aesthetics inside and out while being powered by the same 2.0L 280PS Turbo GDi engine and the 8-speed wet-type N DCT gearbox as the Veloster N. It does 0-100kph in 5.5 seconds with a Launch Control set and a top speed of 240kph. It also comes with numerous high-performance functions such as the N Power Shift, N Grin Shift, and the most clever of the three, the N Track Sense Shift which optimizes adaptive shift for racetrack driving.

The addition of the Pirelli P-Zero tires, R-MDPS, ECS, TCS, N Corner Carving Differential, and N Power Sense Axle really made a difference to this front-wheel-drive hot crossover in terms of handling.

With the success of the so-called Hyundai N "First Family" and with the motoring world embracing the "new normal", the N project envisioned their "new normal" challenger that proves that the N project is ready in the age of electrification.

This is the Hyundai N Vision 74 Concept, a retro-futuristic Fuel Cell Electric vehicle that I won as the overall prize from Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Retrowave series update for 80 points.

Unveiled at the N Day 2022 event as one of the two "rolling lab" concepts alongside the IONIQ 6-based RN22e Concept, the Hyundai N Vision 74 Concept uses the Pony Coupe Concept from 1974 as its base for its retro-futuristic high-performance FCEV concept.

Powering this retro-futuristic concept car is a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid system that features two tanks under a rear window carrying a total of 4.2kg of hydrogen that is fed to an 85kw fuel cell stack at the front. Energy comes from the underfloor-mounted 62.4kWh lithium-ion battery. This hydrogen fuel cell hybrid system produces over 680PS of power and 900Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in four seconds and flat out at 250kph. As for the range, it is 600km.

To demonstrate the capability of the N Vision 74 Concept, I've lined it up against past N models for a quick lap around Horizon Mexico Circuit. The past versus the future of N. This should be interesting. Roll the tape!

And here are the results...

Veloster N - 1m24.484s

Kona N - 1m22.099s

N Vision 74 - 1m15.008s

Welcome to the future, oppa.

For nearly a decade, the Hyundai N project has proven to be the biggest upset in the motoring world from the WRC to the Nurburgring and this "rolling lab" concept called the N Vision 74 is a sign of things to come from the N division. Electrification or not, a bridging bolt strike has been made.

Never Just Drive.

EPILOGUE

Having respect for the first N car sold in South Korea, the Veloster N is prepared for a one-car show I've lined up for. But first...

Remember this? I used to have that design back in FH4 but sadly, my so-called human error accidentally erased it. Long story short but my Mio Minato look is back in my Veloster N, this time in her second season look. I've even prepped it with the ardo kit and the eight-speed gearbox. Now it's a GT-class racer used during Superrace weekends.

With the makeovers done, it's time to hit the road with the Veloster N as it tries to take on what appears to be a re-enactment of the streets of Taipei at night, curated by a certain Forza fan. Let's roll the tape.

Still has plenty of juice even in the afterlife.

The Veloster. Born in 2011, died in 2022, forever a cult classic. The N version is the proper beginning and although it died and is gone, it properly served as the template of the Hyundai N brand. Positioned along with the Avante N and the Kona N, they really are the N's First Family. That's everything you need to know.

Let's wish for more Hyundai N cars in the world of Forza.