Hyundai has been keen on the off-roading capability of future vehicles, as evidenced by the revealed cars in their subbrand XRT, launched in 2022. The trend set in motion after the pandemic has not mellowed, and automotive manufacturers are keen to explore adventurous vehicle lines in their fleets. Hyundai is no different as they’ve come up with the Crater Concept off-road SUV to embrace the thrill of exploring the great outdoors.
Revealed during the Los Angeles Auto Show, the next-generation electric concept car is not going to be merely a prototype, according to Hyundai; the vehicle could be tuned into a production car sometime in the future. In fact, Crater is the very first vehicle to be designed at the Sand Box facility in California. The focus of development is on the off-road vehicles, to take forward the gauntlet from the XRT division, which has had successful SUV releases, including the Palisade, Santa Cruz, and Tucson.
Design: Hyundai
Crater is built on a monocoque architecture, featuring a very chiselled, muscular body that complements its persona. The panelled form is complemented by the wheel arches and the wide skid plate for maximum underbody protection. It has a flat fender design and rocker panels that are inspired by the tool protective case design. The EV gets the same “Art of Steel” exterior design influence as the INITIUM fuel-cell electric vehicle. Focus by the South Korean giant on building the vehicle is on compact proportions for hyper manoeuvrability in tight trails, while having an impressive ride height assisted by the 33-inch off-road wheels encapsulating the 18-inch alloys inspired by the “hexagonal asteroid impacting a sheer metal landscape.” This makes the Crater much more capable than the XRT models, which are good for light off-roading.
The all-wheel drive electric off-roader is most likely sporting a dual-motor setup (just like the IONIQ 5N), although Hyundai didn’t reveal any details on the powertrain setup. One thing is clear, though: the Dune Gold Matte-skinned vehicle has front and rear locking differentials for superior control on tough terrain. Apocalypse-ready features spice up things here, as the removable side mirror cameras can double as flashlights or recording gadgets, hinged back doors for maximum utility, and the tow hooks that function as bottle openers. The roof of the electric vehicle has a platform for lights, storage space for the equipment, and two wires running down the hood to protect the windshield from hanging branches.
On the inside, the rugged cabin is themed in desert sunset and campfire ambient lighting. The steering wheel gets physical controls to toggle the driving modes: Snow, Sand, Mud, Auto, and XRT. The dashboard has a removable Bluetooth speaker, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit to expand the functional approach. The lower part of the windshield gets the HUD elements, including the current, speed, hill descent control, compass, and altimeter. The lighting on the exterior and interior carries the pixelated theme that we’ve seen Hyundai fancy in previous designs like the INSTEROID EV. Hyundai has spiced up things with a Crater Man mascot as an Easter egg that appears at multiple hidden locations on the vehicle.
The post Apocalypse ready Hyundai Crater concept SUV maximizes off-roading utility first appeared on Yanko Design.