French hydrogen-powered luxury concept shown in renders
The hydrogen-powered electric four-door sedan will reportedly will be built in France, and come onto the international market in 2026.
The Hopium Māchina – an ultra-luxury hydrogen-electric concept – has been launched by 29-year-old French racing driver Olivier Lombard.
Hydrogen vehicles use a fuel cell to generate electricity and power a motor. While they are substantially rarer than traditional electric cars powered by lithium-ion batteries, notable examples include the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo.
However, the Hydrogen Motive Company, which Lombard founded earlier this year, believes it can become a volume player.
Rendered images of the vehicle show a sleek four-door sedan with a panoramic sunroof, aggressively-bulged rear-wheel arches, a wide track, Tesla-esque door handles, and aerodynamic camera side mirrors.
The company claims the final product will produce 368kW and have a range of 1000km.
An initial real-world prototype is reportedly on track for a 2021 unveiling, with production said to begin by 2026.
Hopium says the Māchina will be built in France, and sold in China, Europe, Japan, South Korea and the United States.
CarAdvice has contacted the company to find out the there are any plans for an Australian launch, and this story will be updated when more information becomes available.
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