We’re always highly suspicious of any product announcements made on 1 April, but Hyundai might have been counting on that. The South Korean automaker chose the day of ‘mirth’ to reveal its new Insteroid EV concept vehicle, a game-inspired take on its Inster EV.
Looking at it, you can see why we were cautious. The concept doesn’t look real, and not just because it’s a sported-up version of a sub-compact electric vehicle. You might as well put a spoiler on a Bajaj Qute and believe that Hyundai’s car is real. And yet…
Insteroid abuse
Hyundai treated this edition of its Inster EV as a “What if?” project, handing the design over to its European design team. That’s why it looks like it could be used in a chase scene in the Ali G movie (yes, that’s Bilbo Baggins) or as a download for any number of PlayStation racing games. But it’s also quite an impressive take on race-inspired design.
It’s not just about the external appearance, for all that there’s a custom body kit and interior packing the sort of look that would have made Ken Block tip back his baseball cap in appreciation. Yes, there are bucket seats, a roll cage, racing wheel, and an instrument cluster that looks like it was designed by a pixel artist, but the Insteriod also has a few hardware modifications.
The body kit is functional, promising “advanced aerodynamics” from the spoiler, diffuser, elevated wheel arches, and track-spec wheels. The company has added a Drift Mode (we can guess what that does), saying that it delivers “competitive thrills paired with light-hearted driving enjoyment”.
The Insteroid incorporates a bunch of advanced technologies into its creation, including 3D printing, recycled materials, and engineering tweaks. It’s been designed to be entirely adjustable, “reflecting the user-centered spirit of a garage-built machine”. And, since it’s an EV, Hyundai has also included a custom engine note. There’s no point in driving a Speed and Sound cover contender if it’s as silent as a mouse fart.
As for the gaming angle, Hyundai will display the Insteroid at the Seoul Mobility Show from 3 to 13 April — meaning that if this is an April Fool’s gag, the company is at least committing to the bit. But it’ll also appear in a custom-made video game, meaning visitors will get to (virtually) drive the sporty sub-compact concept. The game will be released to the public later this month, meaning we might get a shot at the Insteroid too.
