Hyundai unveils the Crater concept – a bold new take on the off‑roader
At this year’s AutoMobility LA 2025, Hyundai pulled the curtain back on the highly‑anticipated Crater concept, a futuristic off‑roader that looks more like a craft than a car. The design is built around the brand’s “Art of Steel” language, giving the SUV a rugged look and a purpose‑built stance that screams adventure.
A look that feels forged for the great outdoors
The Crater’s exterior is all sharply cut panels and daring skid plates that wrap around the underbody, giving it a bold, muscular silhouette. Hyundai says the proportions are meant to mirror the spirit of exploration. Inside the concept, 18‑inch wheels—topped off with 33‑inch off‑road tyres—carry a design inspired by a hexagonal crater that would form after an asteroid strikes a metallic surface. The vehicle’s monocoque chassis delivers steep approach and departure angles that would let it glide over rough ground.
Features that double as fun
The off‑roader is packed with practical touches and clever gadgets. Built‑in recovery hooks double as bottle openers – handy on a long hike. The removable wing mirrors house cameras that can also act as flashlights, letting drivers capture epic scenery or light the way in an emergency. The interior boasts a full‑width head‑up display that overlays essential driving data – including rear‑view camera footage – straight onto the windshield. An angular steering wheel comes with its own small screen, and a removable Bluetooth speaker is tucked into the cabin for music or informal chats.
“What does freedom look like?”
“We started with the question ‘What does freedom look like?’ and the answer we brought forward is the Crater,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design. “It reflects the drive to explore, to inspire our customers to go deeper and to feel the impact of adventure.”
The Crater concept showcases Hyundai’s ambition to shape the future of off‑road travel, blending striking design, cutting‑edge tech and real‑world practicality all in a single vision. With the concept unveiled in Los Angeles, it looks set to influence the next wave of rugged SUVs that are ready for any terrain.
