Tuesday 25th March 2025

Hyundai teases wild Insteroid concept

Pint-sized Ioniq 5 N to be shown in full next month 

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Not so long ago, the prospect of a small, performance-oriented electric car wouldn’t be tremendously exciting. But the current crop of baby EVs are much more appealing, from Renault 5 to Fiat Grande Panda, and so any fast versions of them feel a bit more valid. Look at the Alpine A290, for example. 

Now Hyundai, maker of probably the most engaging electric vehicle yet, is jumping on the bandwagon. Hopefully sprinkled with a good amount of Ioniq 5 N fairy dust is this, the Insteroid. Built from the A-segment Inster but with significant influence from the world of gaming (and seemingly Pikes Peak racers, by the looks of it), Hyundai says the ‘roid makes its smallest EV ‘into an even bolder statement, harnessing unrestrained creativity to deepen the emotional connection with the Hyundai brand.’ 

It appears to follow a similar template to the DK Edition Ioniq 5, with dramatic spoiler and body extensions, albeit taken to even wilder extremes. The rear wing appears to have come from a car twice the size, the bodykit must add almost 20cm to the width, and the cage screams race car. Whatever Hyundai is cooking, there’ll be no missing it. 

Specifics are scarce for now, Hyundai only confirming that the wheels are 21-inch (!) diameter, the rear diffuser is ‘prominent’ and that the name reflects ‘the funky, youthful and muscular nature of this show car.’ You don’t say. Certainly those that don’t know shout the Inster are about to. 

‘Insteroid is a thrilling ‘glitch’ in the automotive matrix’, reads the press release, ‘seamlessly merging the boundary-pushing aesthetics of video games with real-world engineering to create a vehicle that feels like it’s morphed straight out of a digital speedway.’

While a one-off for the moment, we know how keen Hyundai is at productionising its concepts. And we also know that, very much as opposed to a few years ago, pint-sized and potent EVs are very much of the moment. Hyundai Inster N versus Abarth 500e sounds quite fun, right? More to follow in April.

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• Hyundai Ioniq 5 N | PH Favourite Cars 2024
• 2025 Renault 5 E-Tech | UK Review

[ChevronB19]

Alpine is at best getting mediocre reviews from what I’ve seen (as it is mentioned in the article).

But all credit to people/companies giving things a go, an e-hot hatch (including this, which I acknowledge is a concept) is essentially a new market.

Edited by ChevronB19 on Tuesday 25th March 11:25

[Gastons_Revenge]

From what we can see it looks like a classic hot hatch style equivalent of the earlier N Vision 74 concept. I dig it!

[Gecko1978]

If it looks like the R5 turbo but doesn't cost 100k plus maybe it will work. The regular R5 looks cool

[chrisironside]

Tron meets Metro 6R4.

[Global Nomad]

Hyundai and Renault battling for the ev superhatch title........didnt see that coming a few years ago......

[ChevronB19]

Gecko1978 said:

If it looks like the R5 turbo but doesn't cost 100k plus maybe it will work. The regular R5 looks cool

It’s a concept car… if they make it like that, then yes it will cost a fortune, as per R5 turbo, which itself was diluted in some areas from the concept. It will still cost a fortune and be limited supply. I honestly don’t get why people seem to expect some form of bespoke concept car for 33p on salary sacrifice (eta: this isn’t specifically directed at you, and I acknowledge I’m in a bad mood, partly due to the expectations people had about the R5 turbo).

[plfrench]

ChevronB19 said:

Alpine is at best getting mediocre reviews from what I’ve seen (as it is mentioned in the article).

But all credit to people/companies giving things a go, an e-hot hatch (including this, which I acknowledge is a concept) is essentially a new market.

Edited by ChevronB19 on Tuesday 25th March 11:25

Autocar seemed to be pretty impressed with the handling and ride of the A290 in this group test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBw3iChFtXI

[TGCOTF-dewey]

6R4... brilliant!

Insteroid though...I'm sure I watched that sci fi horror on VHS in the 80s.

[Fetchez la vache]

Hymer should use this naming strategy for a go-fast camper.

[Bernt Tuakrisp]

‘roids as in Farmer Giles or ‘roids as in big muscles/small genitals? Neither is what I’m looking for in a small EV to be honest.

[Evercross]

Bernt Tuakrisp said:

‘roids as in Farmer Giles or ‘roids as in big muscles/small genitals? Neither is what I’m looking for in a small EV to be honest.

That was my first thought. Stupid name that conjures up notions of a painful medical condition affecting your nether regions.

[SwaffhamCountyFayre]

Evercross said:

Bernt Tuakrisp said:

‘roids as in Farmer Giles or ‘roids as in big muscles/small genitals? Neither is what I’m looking for in a small EV to be honest.

That was my first thought. Stupid name that conjures up notions of a painful medical condition affecting your nether regions.

It should really be fitted with a Hemi V8, I love the idea of a HemiRoid

[Justin-ow582]

Is that a power bulge on your bonnet... or are you just pleased to see me?

[The Pistonsdead]

chrisironside said:

Tron meets Metro 6R4.

Good analogy

[NDNDNDND]

An 'insteroid' sounds like a painful anal malady.

[blistacompact]

At first glance I thought it was a shot of a vacuum cleaner in the 2nd picture.

[Pickle_Rick]

Lose the spoiler, 0-60 in 4s, genuine 200 mile winter range and sub £40k and it'll be a winner. If it misses more than one of those things it'll be another EV fail along with anything EV by smart, alfa, lotus, abarth (let's face it, no one is going to blow near £40k on the 600e), Honda or KGM.

Will show Renault and especially alpine how it's meant to be done

[Terminator X]

Seen on t'internet that it is low HP car.

TX.

Edit - if not then I guess it will piss on the R5's chips

Edited by Terminator X on Tuesday 25th March 21:33

[chirurgus]

NDNDNDND said:

An 'insteroid' sounds like a painful anal malady.

What do you call haemorrhoid selfies in an Instagram feed?

[carinaman]

A white Kona N-Line EV/Hybrid passed me yesterday afternoon. I was at the speed limit so they were exceeding it to catch and pass me.

It did a couple of queue dodging dodgy lane changes on road where road side 'furniture' has recently been tweaked due to fatalities.

It looked futuristic and concept car like in the mirrors when it was behind, hence me showing an interest.

I don't like the Iconic 5 reference. It may be based on that but looks wise it's nothing like it. I think the Iconic looks great.