Pininfarina-designed NAMX HUV unveiled as hydrogen fuel cell SUV

A new hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric SUV is set to appear at this year’s Paris Motor Show, styled by famous Italian design house Pininfarina. Called the NAMX HUV, the newcomer features a unique removable fuel capsule system. 

With stakeholders from across Africa and Europe, NAMX calls itself an “Afro-European industrial and technological venture”, and aims to accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with the HUV. The car is a striking coupe-SUV that will enter development in 2023 and two versions will be offered when it goes on sale in late 2025. 

The cheapest HUV will use a 296bhp electric motor to drive the rear wheels, enabling a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds and a 124mph top speed. It’ll cost around €65,000 (approximately £55,000), but for more performance buyers will be able to opt for the four-wheel-drive GTH version with 542bhp. This gets to 62mph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155mph. The GTH will command a €30,000 premium over the base model. 

The HUV will utilise a patented removable fuel capsule system, and while NAMX hasn’t detailed exactly how it will work, the innovation aims to make “hydrogen fuel widely available”. The tanks are mounted in the rear of the vehicle and can be swapped in minutes, with a home fuel capsule delivery service in the pipeline. 

The HUV is an angular machine, with a sloping coupe-esque roofline and NAMX’s “X” logo appearing on the front grille and stamped along the flanks. There’s an LED light bar across the front end, which extends to an X-shaped running light signature that traces the perimeter of the grille. 

Customers can register their interest for the new model on the NAMX website, ahead of the proposed launch in the final quarter of 2025.

Learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles here…