Hyundai Insteroid Revealed, Based On Inster EV & Racecars Seen In Video Games
Hyundai officially revealed the Insteroid after teasing it on social media. It is a one-off racecar based on the Inster EV. The name is a combination of “Inster” and “Steroid”. It also borrows styling cues from a rally car and is a real-life rendition of vehicles in video games. It was revealed in Seoul, South Korea, surprisingly, not as an April Fool’s joke.
Styling
The Insteroid is in tune with Hyundai’s EV design language with pixelated pattern observable on the roof, doors and rear double wing. Undoubtedly, the most striking design aspect of the Insteroid is the striking bodykit. It also integrates various aspects seen on WRC cars, such as the roof scoop and air intakes.
The front headlights are round LEDs, one of the few aspects borrowed from the Inster EV. On the side, the wheels are designed with fan fins with meaty wheel arches, which accentuate the WRC-inspired design. The wheels get covers for aerodynamic efficiency, covered with three circular holes.
Interior
The interior of the Insteroid is purpose-built and an evolution of the 2024 RN Concept. It has a roll cage to improve the chassis stiffness with bucket seats and a manual handbrake, a rarity in today’s cars. The dashboard doesn’t have a touchscreen but has a driver’s display with a few buttons.
The steering wheel is designed so that the driver doesn’t need to move their hands off it. There are dedicated Boost, Track and Mode buttons. The Morse code is represented digitally with the use of four LED dots present in the centre of the wheel.
It can be observed that Hyundai has also placed space invaders-type aliens graphics throughout the interior. It is also equipped with a Beat House system with a tube-style amplifier.
Performance
The 2025 Insteroid aims to fit the most powerful EV powertrain to maximise performance. Currently, the best performance is offered by the IONIQ 5N, which has a 650 HP AWD setup and goes from 0-100 km/hr in just 3.4 seconds. In smaller packaging, it should be able to go much quicker.
The 84 kWh battery pack delivers 447 Km of range. However, technical details of the Insteroid haven’t been revealed as of now. It will also have the various N Modes and potentially the simulated car-like transmission and exhaust sounds through the speakers.
Outlook
This all-electric concoction will be displayed from April 3 to 13, 2025, in the Seoul Mobility Show to generate hype from the public. The Insteroid can enter production, provided there is enough public demand. In terms of the regular Inster EV, there will be an Inster Cross expected in 2026.
