► Hyundai Insteroid teaser images
► New sporty high-performance EV concept
► Bringing video game aesthetics to real life
Hyundai has teased pictures and video of a new gaming-inspired Insteroid concept car. Described as a ‘bolder statement, harnessing unrestrained creativity to deepen the emotional connection with the Hyundai brand,’ it reimagines the perky new Inster electric car as some kind of raging muscle freak binging on energy drinks.
Or at least, that’s the impression we’ve got from the imagery so far. For while the cute Inster pixel lighting details remain, the leading still image is dominated by an enormous double-element rear wing while the video – which paints the Hyundai Insteroid as a ‘glitch’ in the automotive matrix – reveals a frankly ridiculous extension of the rear axle width.
Vented box arches, 21-inch wheels and what appears to be a 3D printed model of the car clipped a rear wing support add further intriguing details. It’s impossible not to notice the prominent roll cage as well.
You’ve probably already worked out that the name itself is a combination of Inster and Steroid.
What the hell is this thing – and how fast is it going to be?
Clearly, Hyundai is on a one-brand mission to make electric cars more exciting, saying; ‘Insteroid is designed to boost the emotional experience of electric cars. Equipped with fun details, it offers plenty to discover; every element – from the control buttons to the instrument cluster, the rear spoiler to the brakes – reflects Insteroid’s character.’
And while nothing’s been said about performance, or even whether the concept is able to move on its own, it’s hard not to draw comparison with the fully functional Hyundai RN24 drift kart the firm unveiled last year.
Combining a stripped back Ioniq 5 N structure with an Inster body would certainly explain the wild track width and general chassis proportions. And we certainly wouldn’t put it past Hyundai to make this a rolling demonstration vehicle, rather than a static aesthetic experiment.
A quick and dirty bit of image manipulation reveals further detail of what looks like a very WRC-inspired build as well as that video-game in real life thing the firm is going for. In the main teaser picture the car has ‘Looking for something?’ written down the side – presumably an emotional connection to driving electric, if we buy into the higher purpose here.
Good news is, we won’t have long to wait to find out more, as Hyundai assures us it will be unveiling the Insteroid properly in early April 2025. Could this preview an Inster-based electric hot hatch? We shall see…
Watch the Hyundai Insteroid teaser video below: