Hyundai's new ‘Insteroid' concept set to bring racing game styling
Hyundai has teased us with a few images of its new concept car with the Insteroid.
The Insteroid will be based on the firm's new Inster compact EV, which rivals the Fiat 500e and BYD Dolphin.
The manufacturer claims that the Insteroid's design has 'racing game-inspired' styling with 21-inch wheels, a large rear roof spoiler and lower diffuser, as well as air vents featured in the wheel arches. Also, the car utilises the same 'Pixel' LED light designs as in the Inster production car as well as featuring circular rear LED tail lights.
Images of the car's interior are yet to be revealed at this stage, however the car could receive a similar cabin to the regular Inster with a high driving position, wood-effect trim, physical climate control buttons and flat-folding front and rear seats. Also, thanks to a boxy design, the Insteroid should provide plenty of space for occupants.
Details of the car's powertrain have not been revealed yet, but the standard Inster comes with either a 42kWh or a 49kWh battery pack that gives a claimed range of up to 369 km on a single charge. It's likely that the Insteriod will adopt the standard car's larger battery pack and will have a boost in power.
The car's name is a combination of 'Inster' and 'Steroid', which the manufacturer claims the car reflects the 'funky, youthful and muscular' nature built up from the regular car.
The Insteroid will be unveiled to the public next month, however, it's uncertain at this stage whether the car will go into production.

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Motor Trend
7 hours ago
- Motor Trend
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Charges *Slower* Using Tesla's NACS Port?!
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For this test, MotorTrend charged the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5—newly equipped with a NACS port—at both a 325-kW Tesla V4 Supercharger and a 350-kW Electrify America charger. The results reveal new layers of complexity in EV charging that may end up frustrating EV drivers before it makes life easier. Tesla Supercharger vs. Electrify America MotorTrend's real-world fast-charging test zaps an EV's battery from 5 to 100 percent and reports the results on how much range has been added for 70-mph highway driving. After 15 minutes of charging, the Supercharger pumped 90 miles' worth of electricity into the Ioniq 5. The Electrify America station delivered 152 miles in the same period. We've traditionally tested non-Tesla EVs at Electrify America stations, as they represent the second most common fast chargers, behind Tesla's units. It made more sense to us—as it will to most owners, we assume—to plug the Ioniq 5 and its new charging port into a Supercharger capable of delivering well in excess of the Hyundai's claimed 250-kW peak charging power. Unfortunately, any owner doing that is likely to be disappointed. The power plateaued at 126 kW from 5 to 73 percent in our test, and a Hyundai spokesperson confirmed that MotorTrend's Supercharger experience matched what customers should expect. (We'll explain the why in greater detail below.) To test the Ioniq 5's true charging capability, we pivoted back to an Electrify America station using a NACS-to-CCS adapter. The difference means that, in the time it takes to use the bathroom and grab a snack, someone using the Electrify America station has enough additional energy to drive for an extra 51 minutes compared to the Supercharger user. 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In the new era, EV drivers also need to understand how much voltage a fast-charging station can deliver—a number that isn't widely advertised by charging providers. Tesla's newest V4 Superchargers, which are fed by older V3 power cabinets, can only output up to 500 volts, while every other 350-kW charger can deliver 1,000 volts. The 2025 Ioniq 5's larger battery pack operates at 697 volts (though it's often referred to as an 800-volt electrical architecture), and one of the principles of charging a battery is that the power input needs to be higher than the pack voltage or else the electricity moves in the wrong direction: out of the battery pack. The fact that a 697-volt Hyundai can charge at all on a 500-volt Tesla Supercharger is a tiny feat of modern engineering. Plugged into a Supercharger, the Ioniq 5 sends electricity through its motor windings to step up the voltage before delivering it to the battery pack. That process has a maximum power limit of 126 kW, as we observed. Give it time, and this confusion should—hopefully—fix itself. Tesla has announced that 1,000-volt Superchargers are coming to North America this year, but the timeline for when and how quickly they'll roll out is as certain as any other timeline thecompanyhaseverindicated. Other charging providers such as EVgo and Ionna are also opening new dispensers with NACS connectors that can hit 1,000 volts. Supercharging Could Still Be Faster There's still real potential that using a Supercharger for your NACS-equipped EV could be faster when you account for all the variables aside from time spent plugged in. Anyone who's road tripped a non-Tesla EV in recent years has charging horror stories. Long lines, broken equipment, slow connections, and human error can all cause infuriating delays. I will never forget the time MotorTrend's long-term 2023 Ioniq 5 demonstrated its great charging capability by going from 5 to 80 percent in about 20 minutes on a 350-kW Electrify America plug—after a two-hour wait behind a pile of other EV drivers. Meanwhile, Tesla Superchargers are common, nearly foolproof in their operation, have a reputation for reliability, and typically have abundant plugs available. According to recent U.S. Department of Energy data, Tesla has more than 2,500 Supercharger stations across the country, comprising nearly 30,000 individual plugs between them (some older stations aren't open to non-Tesla EVs). Electrify America says it has fewer than 1,200 stations with fewer than 5,000 plugs. With this, Tesla offers easy EV charging instead of the chaotic ambiguity of other networks, even if the actual charging is slower and takes longer. It's All Good News The good news is that buyers of new EVs with built-in NACS now have more options than ever—the choice is yours to decide what's the timeliest approach. For now, Ioniq 5 buyers will probably want to keep a CCS to NACS adapter in the car. But as NACS becomes the standard across EVs and the public charging stations, we see a future where that adapter won't be needed anymore.


Motor Trend
7 hours ago
- Motor Trend
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT First Test: Activate Real SUV Mode!
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As such, the XRT is a similarly terrific everyday vehicle, providing good passenger and cargo space within its stylish, user-friendly cabin. Plenty of real buttons balance the digital touch controls. Hyundai's updated infotainment is quicker to respond and better-looking, and its navigation's on-route charge planning is much improved. 2025 Ioniq 5 XRT: At the Track Our instrumented testing regimen revealed how much differently the Ioniq 5 XRT behaves at its limits as opposed to our previous long-term model. Given that its motor output is identical to that of our AWD long-termer, it's no surprise the XRT was essentially as quick in a straight line. It accelerated to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, just 0.1 second off. Both versions posted a 13.2-second quarter-mile time, with the XRT's 102.3-mph trap speed just 1 mph less. Also not surprisingly, the XRT's knobby tires led to some performance compromises. 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It gains a burlier feel and legitimate capability to explore off the beaten path, and it's good fun to chuck down a dirt road. But it doesn't sink so far into the figurative mud pit that it's not a nice everyday all-electric crossover, as well—it totally is. Anyone attracted to the XRT's black-bumpered, fat-tired aesthetic won't pay much of an on-road penalty. They will, however, pay for the XRT trim. Our test version listed at $57,700 with extra-cost paint and rubber floormats as the only options. An AWD-equipped Ioniq 5 Limited doesn't cost much more and comes with niceties including a glass roof, ventilated front seats, and premium audio. That's still the better version for drivers who have no intention of heading off-road. For those who do pony up for an XRT, though, they're in for an endearing, sweet all-electric SUV—yes, an SUV.


Motor 1
8 hours ago
- Motor 1
Weird Elantra N Sales Surge Likely Isn't a Sport Sedan Comeback
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