2025 Hyundai Crater Concept: Korea’s 641 hp Desert Storm EV Breaks Cover
Los Angeles, 20 Nov 2025 – Hyundai Motor America pulled the wraps off the Crater Concept at AutoMobility LA, signalling the next leap for its rugged XRT family and hinting at a future compact off-road SUV that can punch above its weight.
Design News – “Art of Steel” Meets California Desert
Styled at Hyundai America Technical Center, the Crater answers the brief “What does freedom look like?”
Designers forged “Art of Steel” surfacing: sheer shoulders, chiselled bodysides and a matte Dune Gold finish that mirrors sun-bleached sagebrush cliffs .
Designers forged “Art of Steel” surfacing: sheer shoulders, chiselled bodysides and a matte Dune Gold finish that mirrors sun-bleached sagebrush cliffs .
18-inch hexagonal wheels wear 33-inch all-terrain tyres; the faceted pattern is inspired by an asteroid strike frozen in metal .
A roof platform, limb-riser cables and a full-width skid plate give the RAV-4-sized concept proper 4×4 stance, while rear-hinged back doors improve trail-side access
A roof platform, limb-riser cables and a full-width skid plate give the RAV-4-sized concept proper 4×4 stance, while rear-hinged back doors improve trail-side access
.
Exterior Easter Eggs
-
Recovery hooks double as bottle openers
-
Detachable mirror cameras convert to flashlights
-
Pixel-theme spot-lights reference Hyundai parametric lighting DNA
Cabin – Ready for Dust, Grit & Glory
Inside, a functional roll cage doubles as grab-handles and visual drama.
Seats use “three-dimensional padding” and four-point harnesses; materials mix black leather, Alcantara and topographic-etched metal designed to patina with use .
Seats use “three-dimensional padding” and four-point harnesses; materials mix black leather, Alcantara and topographic-etched metal designed to patina with use .
A full-width head-up display replaces the cluster, showing navigation, altimeter, compass and trailer-brake status.
BYOD architecture lets occupants dock phones or tablets as the main infotainment, while a removable Bluetooth centre-console speaker keeps the campfire vibes alive
BYOD architecture lets occupants dock phones or tablets as the main infotainment, while a removable Bluetooth centre-console speaker keeps the campfire vibes alive
.
Off-Road Hardware & Modes
Hyundai refuses to release power-train details, but concept badging and the XRT bloodline point to a dual-motor E-GMP setup, possibly the 641 bhp tune already proven in Ioniq 5 N
.
A tactile gear-type Off-Road Controller offers Snow, Sand, Mud, Auto and XRT presets, plus down-hill brake control and locking differentials .
Approach and departure angles are “steep” (exact figures to follow), while the 33-inch rubber and 18-inch wheels deliver ~290 mm ground clearance
Approach and departure angles are “steep” (exact figures to follow), while the 33-inch rubber and 18-inch wheels deliver ~290 mm ground clearance
.
Concept Status & Future Hints
Crater is officially a design study, yet insiders say 80 % of the body surfacing, skid strategy and interior architecture are production-feasible on the next-generation compact EV platform.
Expect a showroom version—possibly called IONIQ 3 XRT—within 24 months, slotting beneath the Ioniq 5 and rivalling the forthcoming Jeep Recon EV.
Expect a showroom version—possibly called IONIQ 3 XRT—within 24 months, slotting beneath the Ioniq 5 and rivalling the forthcoming Jeep Recon EV.
Quick-Spec Sheet (Confirmed)
| Attribute | Data |
|---|---|
| Length | ~4.6 m (RAV-4 class) |
| Wheels/Tyres | 18″ forged alloys, 33″ AT |
| Approach/Departure | Steep (exact # TBA) |
| Ground Clearance | ~290 mm |
| Drive Modes | Snow, Sand, Mud, Auto, XRT |
| Special Features | Full-width HUD, roll cage, bottle-opener tow hooks, flashlight mirrors |
| Powertrain | Dual-motor AWD (spec TBC) |
Show Calendar
Crater remains on Hyundai’s stand through Los Angeles Auto Show public days (until 30 Nov 2025) alongside the new 2026 Palisade and IONIQ 6 N .
SuperCar Hire Dubai will add the first production-run Hyundai Crater XRT to its adventure fleet in 2026, letting you trade asphalt for dunes—reserve the off-road EV early and swap it same-day with a 911 GT3 or Cayenne Turbo Electric.
#33-inch tyre SUV concept#compact off-road EV concept#Crater Concept production hints#Hyundai Art of Steel design#Hyundai Crater Concept 2025#Hyundai E-GMP dual-motor 641 bhp#Hyundai Los Angeles Auto Show 2025#Hyundai off-road EV specs#Hyundai XRT future model#Korean off-road EV rival to Jeep Recon
