- The small French manufacturer had originally planned to begin production of the car in 2025.
- Late last year, Hopium switched its focus to the sale of hydrogen fuel cells.
- The Machina Vision has a claimed driving range of 620 miles.
Little has been heard about France’s Hopium Machina Vision since it was unveiled in near production guise at the 2022 Paris Motor Show. However, at the recent Car // Design Event 2024 in Munich, the hydrogen-powered electric sedan reappeared and captivated a room full of fascinated attendees.
With the electrified age well and truly upon us, new and innovative cars are being launched at a rapid pace. However, all too often, these new offerings bear an uncanny resemblance to existing vehicles on the market. The same cannot be said about Hopium’s creation as it adopts a bold and futuristic design unlike anything else on the road.
Read: $118,000 Hopium Machina Hydrogen EV Can Complete A Refill In 3 Minutes For 620-Mile Range
These photos from the design event in Munich provide us with an excellent chance to see all of the car’s intricate details. The intriguing LED headlights immediately catch the eye as does the expansive front grille. The swooping LED taillights and rear grille also beautifully complement the front fascia.
The interior of the Machina Vision is also quite a sight to behold. A massive screen dominates the dashboard’s width, while four sleek, sporty seats offer a comfortable perch. The curvaceous transmission tunnel and center console complete the design, creating a visually stunning and cohesive environment.
Photos Car // Design Event 2024
Hopium claims that the futuristic sedan’s integrated fuel cell system delivers 493 hp (500 PS), providing a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h) and accelerating to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than five seconds. It also boasts a range of more than 620 miles (1,000 km) while emitting nothing but water. Additionally, energy can be refilled in a record-breaking time of just three minutes.
However, making it to the assembly line will be a challenge. As of November last year, the company had paused plans to bring the car to the market and said it would instead initially focus on selling hydrogen fuel cells.
However, it generated just €7,000 (~$7,500) in revenue in the first half of 2023, despite spending almost €24.7 million (~$26.3 million). The company also let go of 25 employees last year. Like so many other automotive startups, Hopium has started to discover just how hard it is to crack into this challenging and constantly evolving market.
