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2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

Hyundai leased its first Tucson Fuel Cell crossover last week, which the automaker claims makes it the first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle (FCV) that has been offered to the public (Honda may have something to say about that...). The vehicle, which consumes hydrogen and emits only clean water vapor from its exhaust pipe, will initially only be offered for lease in Los Angeles and Orange Counties - two regions with the greatest density of approved hydrogen stations in the country - at a monthly fee of $499. Since the Tucson FCV rolls down the same Ulsan, Korea, production line as its gasoline-powered relative, production is scalable based on customer demand.
We attended the festivities with the dignitaries and elected officials - clapping until our hands hurt. But once it was over, we grabbed a set of keys and took the new FCV for a half-hour jaunt. According to the press materials, written with a welcomed sense of humor, Hyundai will offer it in three colors: white, white and optional white. Our test model was the latter.
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Hyundai previews Intrado fuel-cell crossover concept

We may still be several months off from the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, but it's apparently not too early for Hyundai to give us a glimpse at what to expect when the Palexpo's doors open in March.
Called Intrado, Hyundai's new concept car takes the form of a high-riding crossover with styling that takes its cues from the Korean automaker's Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language. Designed and engineered in Germany, the concept bears the codename HED-9, a giveaway that it's the ninth concept from Hyundai Europe Design. Inspiration is said to have been drawn from aircraft, with a lightweight form and a name borrowed from the underside of an airplane's wing.
Hyundai isn't saying much more, revealing only the teaser rendering above. But it has indicated that the Intrado concept packs a new hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain that's both smaller and lighter than the one powering the existing ix35 Fuel Cell, which (last we heard) Hyundai was hoping to bring Stateside as part of its Tuscon lineup by 2015.

We want a Hyundai with this N prototype's crackly engine

Hyundai produces quality, mainstream machinery, but with the exception of the Genesis Coupe and Veloster Turbo, it hasn't brought many enthusiast-oriented vehicles to the table. Hyundai plans to change that with their in-house performance brand, N. The group will develop race cars and high-output versions of production cars, and if this prototype video is anything to go by, Hyundai N products will sound fantastic. The video shows what looks to be a Hyundai i30 hatchback, which we get in the States as the Elantra GT. And it sounds wonderful with a cackling, popping exhaust reminiscent of a rally car. Hyundai has not confirmed whether we will get this car or engine. We wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get the car, since a new generation Elantra hit dealers not long ago. As far as the engine, we certainly hope we will get it eventually, whether it's in an Elantra or something else – Veloster N anyone? Either way, we will get a slightly hopped-up Elantra Sport soon. Hyundai showed the Korean-market Avante Sport recently, which Hyundai confirmed would become the US-market Elantra Sport, more or less. It will feature the same 201 horsepower engine of the Veloster Turbo, and if it sounds even half as impressive as the i30 N prototype, it should tide us over while we wait for our own N-badged model. Related Video: