Hyundai Insteroid Concept Is A Bonkers Gaming-Inspired Widebody Drift Kart Based On The Inster EV
Hyundai Motor Group is on a roll as of late; it produces some of the most daringly designed cars on sale today, from the retro-futuristic electric Ioniq 5, 6, and 9, to the funky Kia K4, EV6 and EV9, and the entire Genesis product line. Beyond design, its performance models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Elantra N are some of the most exciting vehicles in their respective segments. Its latest creation is the enchanting Insteroid electric performance drift kart concept, which yesterday in preparation for the Seoul Mobility Show. The Insteroid concept is based on the brand's lovable and remarkably tiny electric subcompact hatchback, the Inster (which is itself based on the Casper), but the Insteroid gets a giant shot of growth hormone that turns the cuddly looking Inster into a menacingly adorable — or is it adorably menacing? — electric super kart.
To complete the transformation, Hyundai added a comically oversized rear wing, front splitter, and widebody wheel arches, and paired them with a cool orange, white, and gray color scheme, complete with striking mismatched wheel designs. Add that together with bold graphics and illuminated Insteroid script on the front of the Inster's already charming design, and Hyundai's got us yearning.
Read more: You Can Buy One Of The Best Modern Sports Sedans For Less Than A Toyota Corolla
Hyundai says the Insteroid is inspired by gaming, and as someone who used to build out widebody versions of everything I possibly could in PC games like "Need For Speed," the Insteroid hits the nail on the head. Beyond the digital world, the Insteroid's beefy widebody and oversized features are reminiscent of extreme hatchbacks of yore like the Renault 5 Turbo, Ford Festiva SHOgun concept, and Volkswagen GTI W12 concept, and the Hyindai has a similar performance leaning.
The Insteroid's interior is stripped out like a race car, complete with bucket seats and roll cage. Hyundai has not announced any specs on the concept just yet, beyond its "unique sound signature" and the presence of a Drift Mode. Cue the evil laugh and mischievous hand wringing. It showcases lightweight components made using a lattice structure, as well as environmentally conscious materials like fabric knit from recycled yarns to optimize performance and sustainability. Hyundai says every element of the cockpit is fully adjustable, and it's designed intentionally to evoke the vibe of a garage-built race machine.
Cruelly, Hyundai's adorable Inster remains forbidden fruit in North America, though it says it will start offering Inster in select markets across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Central and South America. There's no mention of the Insteroid making it to production in any region as of yet, but we're still keeping our fingers very crossed that something inspired by the Insteroid will get green-lit.
Hyundai unveiled the Insteroid concept at an event at a cultural and retail space in Seoul's Seongsu neighborhood called Peaches D8NE (Dowon). It also previewed a soon-to-be-launched online time-attack game starring the Inster, where players race and collect 'steroid items' — it's probably not cool to say players collect steroids — that enable the Inster to evolve into the Insteroid. It also revealed the Insteroid Kart, which will be released later as a powerful tool in Kartrider Rush+, a kart-racing game for mobile gaming.
The Insteroid concept will be showcased at the Seoul Mobility Show from April 3 to April 13, and Hyundai says it will make appearances at major auto events in key Korean and European markets. Hyundai, if you ever let the media drive the Insteroid, I know a really tall dude at Jalopnik who would be more than happy to test its cockpit adjustability and give it a whirl.
Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox...
Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz review: A compact pickup that defies expectations
I'm sharing my impressions of vehicles after living with them for a few days or as a make or model evolves. The car this week: 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD. What is it? Sporty compact pickup. Imagine replacing the rear third of Hyundai's popular Tucson compact SUV with a short pickup bed.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Redesigned 2026 Kia K4 Spied In California Ahead Of Debut
The 2026 Kia K4 has been spotted on American roads completely undisguised (since we already know what it looks like), heralding an imminent launch for the automaker's surprisingly popular sedan, which has helped Kia achieve remarkable sales this year. Its distinctive design hasn't hurt sales, but the Korean automaker is already making significant changes to its styling, and this test mule appearing on Orange County roads without any camouflage means those changes are almost ready to reach the dealer. The current Kia K4 has headlights that stretch in three directions: toward the rear of the fenders, toward the bottom of the bumper, and toward the center of the front fascia. Similarly, the rear end has a taillight setup where the housings have both vertical and horizontal bars, which almost creates the commonplace full-width lightbar. For the new model, that quirky design has improved somewhat, as the headlights are now simpler and more upright, which gives us EV9 vibes. At the rear, the taillights now stretch into the fenders, and the horizontal accents have been removed. A pair of small spoilers on either end of the rear windshield also appear to be new. With minimal white vinyl on elements like the bumpers, door handles, charging port, rear fenders, and side skirts, as well as what appear to be production wheels (missing their center caps, though), this K4 sedan prototype seems like the finished product. Although we've hardly seen the new K4 anywhere on the internet, this may already be our last preview, as the new design is expected to arrive for the 2026 model year. Hopefully, it will retain the attractive pricing of the pre-facelift version, which starts at a scarcely believable $21,990, before destination and handling. With the effects of tariffs still casting doubt on pricing, speculating on how much the MSRP may change is probably fruitless, but a small increase seems likely. If you don't mind the current design (seen below), there will probably be some good incentives for the 2025 model when the 2026 variant arrives at dealers. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Not One, But Two Lawsuits Are Eroding Hyundai Palisade's Safety Reputation
Hyundai has found itself in hot water over braking issues on its three-row Palisade, one of the company's most popular models in the United States. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Hyundai Motor America, dated May 9, claiming that problematic anti-lock braking or traction control systems on certain Palisades lead to increased stopping distances. The lawsuit alleges the Korean automaker was aware of the defect but did not resolve it. According to the lawsuit, certain 2023 to 2025 model year Palisades experience braking problems over rough or uneven surfaces. The plaintiffs claim that there are miscalculations of wheel speed when braking, causing the sudden release and reapplication of braking power. Ultimately, drivers have experienced longer stopping distances than anticipated, and the safety implications of this are obvious. "Hyundai has failed to repair the ABS Defect in Class Vehicles within a reasonable time," stated the lawsuit. "As a result, many Class Vehicle owners have been forced to continue driving their cars with faulty brakes that suffer from the ABS Defect." Plaintiffs claim that since Hyundai did not rectify the problem quickly enough, this was a breach of its express warranty. Furthermore, this is a violation of consumer protection laws in Ohio and New York. One customer who leased a 2024 Palisade described that it felt as if the SUV skidded over the road surface when applying the brakes. Another customer experienced the same, but the Hyundai dealership simply explained that this was normal behaviour for the ABS system. On the NHTSA's site, we quickly found an incident reported by a customer in April this year, whereby their 2025 Palisade has an ABS issue and failed to stop before a stop light; this customer said: "The car felt extremely unsafe when this event occurred." Many customers involved in the lawsuit pointed to the Palisade's strong safety reputation as a reason for purchasing or leasing the vehicle. Specifically, they referenced Hyundai's marketing materials, which points to the Palisade's high safety specification and Top Safety Pick award from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The braking issues have soured these drivers' perception of the vehicle, many of whom no longer feel safe when driving the SUV. Another safety-related lawsuit has been filed against Hyundai for the Palisade. This one affects 2020 to 2023 models, due to an issue where the vehicle's seatbelts could unexpectedly unlatch. The NHTSA currently lists an open investigation for these Palisade model years, stating that the Office of Defects Investigation has received 37 complaints about unlatching seatbelts. An estimated 332,288 Palisades are implicated in this investigation. Fortunately, no accidents or injuries have yet been reported, but an unlatching seatbelt would be a serious safety concern for anyone, especially in a vehicle that's likely to have kids seated in the back. In May 2025, Hyundai sold 11,207 Palisades, behind only the Elantra (15,741) and Tucson (19,905). A highly regarded SUV with spacious seating for up to seven occupants, the Palisade has consistently been one of America's favorite SUVs since its launch, alongside the related Kia Telluride. A new-generation Palisade was revealed in April, featuring a more efficient hybrid powertrain alongside the familiar V6. It also has ultra-fresh looks and a more spacious interior with dual curved displays ahead of the driver. It would be in Hyundai's best interest to address the first-gen's Palisade's safety issues sooner rather than later, as it wouldn't want to taint the brand's image just as an all-new version arrives. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
