Hopium is a fairly new French company founded by racing driver Olivier Lombard, who actually became the youngest class winner at Le Mans when he took an LMP2 victory at the age of 21 back in 2011.
The plan is to produce high-end hydrogen-powered vehicles, and the Machina was first unveiled back in October last year. Now though, a real-life prototype has been completed and the order books are open.
This prototype has been named ‘Alpha 0’ and its job is essentially to certify the reliability of the fuel cell system. That system, by the way, will allow the production Machina to travel over 620 miles (1,000km) on a single tank with a three-minute refuelling time. There will also be over 500bhp on tap and a top speed of 143mph.
The Hopium adventure is taking shape. This new French car manufacturer presents itself as the Tesla of hydrogen. But where the American brand has bet everything on 100% electric battery, Hopium wants to democratize the hydrogen vehicle.
Modern luxury
Its first prototype, a large sedan of almost 5 meters, the Hopium Machina Vision, should be quite close to the production model. We thus discover a long aerodynamic silhouette, with camera mirrors. At the front, surrounded by a very futuristic light signature, the grille of the vehicle suggests shutters, which can open or close according to the ventilation needs of the fuel cell.
On the sides, a striking detail, no French flag but the twelve stars of Europe. Quite a symbol at a time when the continent has chosen to ban the sale of new thermal cars by 2035, favoring electric, battery or hydrogen. And for Hopium, the desire to assert a 100% European supply for the materials used in its production, in order to reduce the environmental impact.
Before presenting this concept, Hopium had already registered 1000 reservations for this model which will be sold from 120,000 euros. The brand and this concept of the future Machina will be present at the next Paris Motor Show next October.