Hyundai Crater off-road concept debuts in LA

CRATER Man made his global debut at the Los Angeles Mobility Show his toothy skull-like image emblazoned across elements of the show-stopping Hyundai Crater off-road lifestyle concept vehicle that looks like it came straight off the pages of a rally raid catalogue.

Hyundai says Crater Man is a symbolic character integrated throughout the vehicle, offering playful storytelling through ‘hidden surprises’ and interactive design elements.

The futuristic Crater, largely a creation of Hyundai’s Southern California based XRT design department, isn’t confirmed for production but size-wise targets the likes of Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco and is designed for America’s perception of an adventure vehicle.

No indication as to what’s under the Crater’s bonnet was provided at the show suffice to say it appears to run a sound generator that suggests an electric motor BEV drive although a hybrid of some would also make sense for such a vehicle.

All-wheel drive is a given based on looks alone.

Hyundai says Crater concept is a “compact off-road SUV vehicle that visually expresses capability and toughness”.

“It is a design exploration that is inspired by extreme environments, the vehicle crafted with the spirit of XRT including design elements that showcase protection and connectivity as seen in Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 XRT, Santa Cruz XRT and Palisade XRT Pro production models,” Hyundai added.

Hyundai intends using the rugged new Crater Concept as a rolling embodiment of its commitment to designing even more versatility and emotion into future XRT models.

“Crater began with a question: ‘What does freedom look like?’,” said Hyundai and Genesis Global Design executive vice president SangYup Lee.

“This vehicle stands as our answer, it is a vision shaped by our unending drive to explore, to inspire our customers to explore deeper and embrace the impact of adventure.”

It’s sculpted using Hyundai’s so-called Art of Steel exterior design language that “transforms the strength and flexibility of steel into a language of sculptural beauty”.

Hyundai says that by using advanced steel technologies, the material’s natural formability reveals flowing volumes and precise lines… the aesthetic quality of steel.

Crater’s exterior designers were guided by the goal “to shape a rugged and capable form that reflects the landscapes that it's inspired by”.

“This informed every detail - from the chiselled body sides to the bold skid plates, resulting in a concept that visually communicates strength, resilience, and purpose,” Hyundai added.

Built on a compact monocoque architecture, the vehicle is designed to go anywhere its silhouette revealing steep approach and departure angles which support serious off-road exploration.

It rolls on 18-inch wheels with a hexagonal theme that are clad in generous 33-inch off-road tires, enabling superior traction and ground clearance for performance in all environments.

A wide, functional skid plate stretches across underbody for added protection and to impart a rugged look.

The roof platform is for mounting auxiliary lighting, additional storage, and other off-road accessories while a handy pair of “limb riser” cables stretch from the front of the bonnet to the roof for added protection from low-hanging branches on narrow and overgrown trails.

Crater features what designers call a sheer fender (mudguard) design that emphasises the model’s robotic and sculptural character through wide and prominent shoulders with sheer surfaces.

The rocker panels are constructed to suggest both protection and utility, reinforcing the vehicle’s readiness for any terrain.

A “unique” three-dimensional lighting signature is featured that creates a layered effect to add depth and precision. Indirect lighting softly illuminates surrounding surfaces.

Auxiliary lights mounted on the roof feature Hyundai’s gradient parametric pixel theme.

Other stand-out exterior features include the built-in Crater Man recovery hooks that double as a bottle opener, side-mirror cameras that double as flashlights and can be removed from the vehicle in emergency situations.

Inside is a tour de force of functionality focused on the needs of tech-savvy adventure seekers “who prize rugged, function-first design and flexibility”.

The interior is characterised by technical shapes wrapped in soft-yet-durable materials capped off by a flexible and customizable digital experience that adapts to various situations and individual user preferences.

Giving an insight into potential future Hyundai tech is the concept’s multifunction Dynamic Head-Up Display that runs full-width and includes a novel rear view camera mirror feed.

The unconventional tube style dashboard’s crash pad is shaped like a bent metal sheet, wrapping around the form. Subtle perforations allow soft light to glow through, creating a refined and distinctive aura unique to the concept.

Strap-inspired design elements are paired with ambient lights in an accent colour.

A functional exposed roll cage outlines the cabin inside while integrated grab handles facilitate ingress and egress.

The steering wheel features a centre-mounted pixel display while terrain mode buttons allow quick switching to Snow, Sand, Mud, Auto, and XRT modes.

A first aid kit is positioned on the passenger side while a fire extinguisher is on the driver’s side and between them is a removable Bluetooth centre console main speaker, perfect for bush parties.