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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.


William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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