Hyundai has just unveiled its radical Nexo SUV which is a dedicated fuel cell vehicle that will serve as the replacement for Hyundai’s Tucson Fuel Cell when it goes on sale later this year. Underpinning the Nexo is a bespoke platform. The decision to go with a bespoke platform meant the engineers were able to optimize weight and packaging. The powertrain is also new. Hyundai says it weighs less and takes up less space than the powertrain in the Tucson Fuel Cell.
It also gets connected vehicle tech which uses artificial intelligence and ‘internet of things’ technology to complete commands and functions via voice control, allowing the driver to adjust cabin temperature or open the sunroof, along with more sophisticated tasks like turning the lights on/off in their connected home or stream the song they’re playing in the vehicle through the home audio system.
In addition to new fuel cell technology, Hyundai has introduced new electronic driver aids on the Nexo. These include a system to park or summon the vehicle remotely. Another system is a self-driving system for single lanes. It works at speeds between 0 and 145kmph on both highways and city streets. A third system is a blind spot monitor that shows the driver in the main instrument cluster the rear and side views of the vehicle.
