Skip to main content

Hyundai teases hydrogen-powered Intrado concept ahead of Geneva Motor Show

When Hyundai first teased its Intrado concept car in December of last year, it perked up our interest. Not only was it powered by fuel cells, but it also promised a revolutionary new construction technique. Well now Hyundai has released a few more details – and pictures – of the Intrado ahead of its official debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.

So for starters, what’s with the name? It turns out, it’s not Latin for something inappropriate; it’s actually the term for the area of the underside of an aircraft’s wing that creates lift.  The term was chosen not only because automakers love comparing cars to aircraft, but also because the Intrado pioneers new construction techniques.

While Hyundai is still being coy on the details, we do know that the car makes extensive use of composites, including a carbon frame. Not only is this unusual for a car that is not designed to push the limits of speed, it’s assembled using a new technique. This new technique is still being kept close to Hyundai’s vest, but it seems to involve how panels and components are joined. It is possible that it may involve a heat or pressure method of forming panels together.

Regardless of the exact method, Hyundai claims that the strength and rigidity of the carbon fiber central structure allows greater flexibility in the materials for body panels. This flexibility should reduce weight as well as making the car easier to repair.

The low weight should come in handy when it comes to design a powertrain. The Intrado is powered by a next-generation hydrogen fuel cell, that charges a 36 kWh lithium ion battery. Hyundai promises a range of over 600 kilometers, or about 370 miles, and a refueling time equivalent to that of a normal gas powered car.

 Hyundai has already demonstrated its commitment to hydrogen technology and is about to start selling fuel cell powered Tuscons  crossovers in the United States.  When seen in that light the Intrado is no mere pie in the sky concept, or even a tech demonstrator, but a genuine indication of what the future of Hyundai crossovers might look like.

It is already possible to look at the Intrado and see the styling as an evolution of what Hyundai is already doing in the Tucson. The technology on the Intrado might not show up on the next generation of Tucson, but don’t be surprised if you can buy something a whole lot like the Intrado in the not too distant future. 

Peter Braun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…
I tried an e-bike for the first time and now I’m hooked
It’s not about being a 'bike person', it’s about finding small upgrades to everyday life
A woman sitting on the Aventon Pace 4

Before this year, I’d never even touched an e-bike before, and the thought of riding one was never on my radar. With life already in constant motion thanks to two toddlers, biking wasn’t something I ever considered adding to the mix.

I’d always assumed e-bikes were for hardcore commuters or serious cyclists, not someone like me. I wasn’t looking for a big lifestyle change. I just wanted a quicker way to get to the park so we’d have more time to play before dinner.

Read more
This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Read more
Take a peek inside the factory making tomorrow’s ride
A Zoox robotaxi.

Amazon-owned Zoox has opened its first facility producing fully autonomous robotaxis. 

A video (above) released by the California-based company offers a peek inside the factory, which, when it reaches full capacity, could roll out as many as 10,000 autonomous vehicles per year.

Read more