Hyundai Teases INSTEROID: a Gaming-Inspired Electric Dream Car

Hyundai has unveiled teaser images of its new concept car, the INSTEROID — a futuristic, gaming-inspired take on the brand’s popular INSTER electric vehicle. Slated for a full reveal in April 2025, the one-off design fantasy fuses pixel-perfect aesthetics with real-world performance cues.

The name “INSTEROID” is a mash-up of “INSTER” and “steroid,” meant to signal a muscular, amped-up reimagining of the sub-compact EV that’s been a sales hit in Europe and South Korea since its debut in June 2024.

Teaser visuals hint at aggressive, arcade-racer styling: flared wheel arches with air vents, oversized 21-inch wheels and a commanding rear spoiler and diffuser. Signature Pixel LED lights and video game-inspired controls further reinforce the car’s playful personality. Hyundai says INSTEROID is a “dream car designed to make you smile,” crafted to heighten the emotional experience of driving an EV. Every detail — from the cockpit’s instrument cluster to the brake design — is meant to embody a youthful, imaginative spirit.

Described as a “glitch in the automotive matrix,” INSTEROID is not meant for production but rather to spotlight Hyundai’s creative design ambitions. Stay tuned for the full unveiling next month.