Hopium Machina set to be 1st hydrogen-powered luxury car

Meet what is set to be the world’s first hydrogen-powered luxury car, the Hopium Māchina.

Created by newly formed French carmaker, Hopium which is part of the Hydrogen Motive Company founded by French racer, Oliver Lombard, the Māchina is touted as a “real technological breakthrough”.

Although most of its technical details are still a closely guarded secret, Hopium said it will have 368kW (493hp/500PS) and 1,000km of range. And because it uses hydrogen, refueling is said to take only about three minutes.

The Māchina will also be carbon neutral and combine “performance, connectivity, safety and ergonomics” with “unique luxury and a sporty interior design”.

Indeed, the sleek avant-garde styling comes with distinctive headlights with a fluid design daytime running light, a shark-like nose and mesh-style lower air intake.

Side on, the sleek body features rakish windscreen, muscular rear haunches and massive aerodynamic wheels. We can also see flush-mounted door handles and what appears to be camera side mirrors.

Moving to the rear end, the taillights are equally as unique as the front, while the rear bumper feature a similar mesh design as the front.

According to Hopium, the first prototype will be revealed within a year with production slated to begin in 2026. The luxury car will be built in France and offered in Europe, China, the US, Japan and South Korea, amongst others.