Off-road cosplay is massive enterprise within the automotive world proper now. Chunkier fenders, pseudo underbody safety, mediocre all-terrain tires—and voila! You’ve got bought your self a soft-roader. Any automaker can cook dinner up a brand new trim identify and tout its functionality, however Hyundai seems to be taking this recreation extra critically.
The automaker will unveil a brand new idea in Los Angeles later this week, dubbed the Crater. Hyundai will peel again the wraps on what needs to be the following step past XRT-branded merchandise. The truth is, Hyundai says the Crater “has been crafted to amplify the identical spirit and robustness present in XRT manufacturing automobiles.”
That shouldn’t be terribly troublesome. The XRT stuff makes an attempt to look the a part of a toughened-up off-road-ready machine. In actuality, XRT merchandise are finest suited to graded hearth roads in your approach to an Airbnb in Joshua Tree or to a rented cabin at your native ski resort.
That’s to not say the XRT merchandise aren’t enjoyable. The truth is, the Ioniq 5 XRT is loads enjoyable. It’s an electrical sizzling hatch with rally automobile aspirations, delivering really entertaining driving dynamics in off-pavement environments. However as an entire, the XRT division’s promoting efforts serve up a extra thrilling imaginative and prescient than the fact of what they will really do. Safely, a minimum of.
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Supply: Hyundai
The Crater Idea clearly desires to alter that. It options aggressive lighting parts, entrance and rear fascias designed for method and departure angles, and actual, precise floor clearance. I’d go as far as to say that this idea may arrive packing portal axles. Fingers crossed.
I don’t really suppose a manufacturing Hyundai car will function portal axles. However this dusty-road-loving off-road-adventure fan can dream, proper? And if not portal axles for a gas-powered car, how about an EV with a quad-motor setup as a substitute?
A car like this isn’t a shock for Hyundai. Sibling-brand Genesis seems set to convey the X Gran Equator to market in some kind. In spite of everything, Genesis desires a G-Class revival. Hyundai then would have a path to convey a less-luxe model to market, and the Crater Idea appears to be a preview of simply that car.
