01-04-2025
The Insteroid Is Just a Concept, But Hyundai Is Hinting at an Affordable EV Hot Hatch
Remember the shadowy pictures of a car called the Hyundai Insteroid that the Korean carmaker teased last week? Well, it's finally been revealed in all its over-the-top glory – and it's a small, electric performance concept that imagines a more affordable hot hatch than the award-winning Ioniq 5 N.
Unveiled in South Korea on Tuesday, the Insteroid's goal is 'to challenge conventions, create emotions and redefine what a sporty EV can be,' according to Hyundai. There are no specs to speak of, but the design lets the world know where this car is going with its enormous rear wing, massive widebody, huge wheels pushed to the corners and large maw up front. Scoops aplenty, attractive pixel-style lighting, an aggressive diffuser, fender vents and more just add to its character. It looks like the sort of car we'd see flying up Pikes Peak — or going sideways up the Goodwood Hill Climb.
Going sideways is part of the design brief, too, as Hyundai says the Insteroid has a Drift mode. That being the case, we can guess that it's most likely uses a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain, much like the Ioniq 5 N and the skeletal RM24 concept — which, to be honest, bears a bit of a resemblance to the Insteroid.
And the brand's bigwigs are using the launch to open the door to future, more affordable electric performance cars. 'My son who has to buy this car … we have to think of that generation to buy cars, to continue buying cars,' said Hyundai exterior design manager Nicola Danza to Australia's CarExpert. 'Developing product for all of us is good of course, it's what we do daily, it's our bread and butter, but we're thinking about our future, we're thinking about what's coming next and times are changing really fast."
"And [young people] can't afford the Ioniq 5 N, so let's make a car for them.'
Talk like that leaves the door open to Hyundai putting together a production version of the Insteroid, but such a theory was dashed away just as quickly as it was proposed by Danza.
'There are no plans," Danza said, when discussing the potential for the Insteroid to reach production. "But if there could be a company crazy enough, it would be Hyundai,'
The Insteroid tries to appeal to younger crowds via gaming-inspired features like the 'Beat House' audio system and 'Message Grid' that aims to emulate how in-game alerts are displayed. Of course, it also has bucket seats, a roll cage and an especially neat looking instrument cluster that combines both digital and mechanical updates.
You'll notice the interior photos show off a 'Boost' mode that lasts for 40 seconds and steering wheel scroll wheels for both traction control and brake bias. Hyundai doesn't highlight these features in its release, but it sure looks like this EV is hiding a lot of performance potential.
Even if this roided-up concept doesn't reach production, evidence that Hyundai is considering and ruminating on the idea of an affordable, electric hot hatch is music to our ears. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a superb EV, earning our Performance EV of the Year award under $100,000 last year — so a smaller, lighter car with the same ethos for less cash sounds like a lovely idea.
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