Hyundai CRATER Concept Global Debut, The Future of the XRT Trim?

Hyundai Motor America debut the CRATER Concept at the LA 2025 AutoMobility show in Los Angeles. This concept is a compact off-road SUV that exhibits capabilities and toughness as one explores extreme environments for those with a spirit of adventure. Crafted based on the XRT trim of Hyundai off-road package as found in the IONIQ 5 XRT, Santa Cruz XRT, and Palisade XRT Pro production models.

Hyundai asked a question of employees and customers: "What does freedom look like?" 

VP and head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design, SangYup Lee said this is their answer to that question. "It is a vision shaped by our unending drive to explore — to inspire our customers to explore deeper and embrace the impact of adventure.”

The design group came up with 21 distinct impact points on the CRATER Concept as follows:

Design Highlights | Art of Steel

• The Art of Steel exterior design language transforms the strength and flexibility of steel into a language of sculptural beauty. Inspired by Hyundai Motor’s advanced steel technologies, the material’s natural formability reveals flowing volumes and precise lines that evoke the distinctive aesthetic quality of steel — powerful, gentle and timeless.

Exterior Design Theme: The Impact of Adventure

• CRATER Concept’s exterior design was guided by a clear goal: to shape a rugged and capable form that reflects the landscapes that it's inspired by. This informed every detail — from the chiseled bodysides to the bold skid plates — resulting in a concept that visually communicates strength, resilience, and purpose.

Compact Concept’s Proportions

• CRATER Concept’s proportions reflect an adventurous spirit. Built on a compact monocoque architecture, CRATER Concept has been designed to go anywhere.

Adventurous Silhouette

• CRATER Concept is highlighted by its bold silhouette, complemented by its steep approach and departure angles which support serious off-road exploration.

Hexagonal Faceted Wheels

• CRATER Concept’s 18-inch wheels were inspired by envisioning a hexagonal asteroid impacting a sheer metal landscape, leaving a fractal crater in its aftermath. The design evokes an off-road spirit, blending ruggedness with precision. The wheels are clad in generous 33-inch off-road tires, enabling superior traction and ground clearance for performance in all environments.

Wide Skid Plate

• A wide, functional skid plate stretches across CRATER Concept’s underbody, not only for added protection, but to visually anchor the vehicle. Its sheer surface and robust form express protection and capability.

Roof Platform

• The roof platform is imagined as the ideal mounting point for auxiliary lighting, additional storage, and other off-road accessories.

Limb Risers

• A pair of cables stretching from the front hood to the roof promise added protection from low-hanging branches on narrow and overgrown trails.

Sheer Fender Design

• A sheer fender design emphasizes CRATER Concept’s robotic and sculptural character through wide and prominent shoulders with sheer surfaces. Pushed to the extreme, this design feature reinforces the vehicle’s confident, planted stance, showcasing Hyundai’s ‘Art of Steel’ exterior design language.

Protective-Utility-Case-inspired Rocker Panel

• The rocker panels’ construction both suggest protection and utility, reinforcing the vehicle’s readiness for any terrain.

Parametric Pixel and Indirect Lighting

• CRATER Concept’s unique lighting signature is three-dimensional in form, creating a layered effect that adds depth and precision. Indirect lighting softly illuminates surrounding surfaces.

Off-Road Lights

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

Hidden Exterior Gems

• One of CRATER Concept’s built-in recovery hooks performs double duty as bottle opener.
• The vehicle’s side-mirror cameras double as flashlights. They can be removed from the vehicle in emergency situations to capture breathtaking views or even record exciting adventures.

Interior Design Language: The Curve of Upholstery

• The interior of the CRATER Concept has been designed for tech-savvy adventure seekers who prize rugged, function-first design and flexibility. Inside the CRATER Concept, technical shapes are wrapped in soft-yet-durable materials, resulting in a stylish, natural integration that delivers comfort, support, and practicality in any environment. Simultaneously tough yet warm, the CRATER Concept’s singular interior design starts with its high-brow crash pad, which bridges the vehicle’s exterior with its interior.

Customizable Interface for Every Journey

• By leveraging a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) approach, Hyundai suggests a flexible and customizable digital experience that adapts to various situations and individual user preferences.

Dynamic Head-Up Display

• CRATER Concept’s full-width head-up display is a cutting-edge, multi-function display that includes a novel rearview camera mirror feed.

Crash Pad with Ambient Lighting

• The unconventional 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.

Functional and Expressive Details

• Strap-inspired design elements are paired with ambient lights in an accent color. These details add energy and visual depth to CRATER Concept’s sturdy and practical character.

Structural Interior Expression

• A functional roll cage outlines the cabin, adding tension and strength, while integrated grab handles ease ingress and egress. This exposed structural element provides a reassuring feeling of safety, reinforcing that CRATER Concept is built for confident exploration and resilience.

Supportive Seating for Exploration

• CRATER Concept’s seats feature wraparound forms that are a departure from traditional bucket seats. These seats are combined with three-dimensional padding that provides stability and comfort during rugged journeys. Cylindrical cushions and a supportive headrest offer ergonomic comfort, while ample side bolsters stabilize the body during off-roading. A four-point seatbelt system hints at enhanced restraint and safety in off-road scenarios.

Steering Wheel

• A center-mounted pixel display reimages driver interaction on the squared-off steering wheel, while terrain mode buttons suggest quick switching to Snow, Sand, Mud, Auto, and XRT modes.

Interior Details

• First aid kit (passenger side)
• Fire extinguisher (driver side)
• Removable Bluetooth center console main speaker
• Hidden aperture light at the dashboard edge reveals a playful light signature
• Easy-to-reach cylinder-type center controls are mechanically linked to visual indicator lights
• CRATER MAN is a symbolic character integrated throughout the vehicle, offering playful storytelling through ‘hidden surprises’ and interactive design elements

Off-Road Design Cues

• The Hyundai CRATER Concept includes key functions for tackling rugged terrain and seeking new adventures. A tactile, gear-type multi-function Off-Road Controller has been designed for full and intuitive control, front and rear locking differentials, and traction and braking management — all part of the concept’s expressive off-road narrative. A terrain mode selector features SNOW, SAND, and MUD preset settings designed to suggest optimized performance across varied terrains.
  • Downhill brake control
  • Trailer brake control
  • Compass
  • Altimeter

CRATER Concept encompasses the following inspired colors, Dun Gold Matte exterior paint drawn from the California coastal terrain, Black Ember interior designed to handle the off-roading demands of lifestyle active people, Accents of Orange in the cabin connecting the inside to the outside world.

CRATER Concept Materials encompasses the following inspired tone, a black leather base sets a neutral tone for the cabin, allowing a deeper connection with nature. Black Alcantara adds a tactile, grounded feel that speaks to control and comfort in motion, subtly evoking California’s gritty sandstone. Brushed metal accents introduce a layer of industrial toughness, complementing the interior’s rugged yet refined aesthetic. Topographic patterns are etched into select surfaces, speaking to the very soul of off-road journeying, serving as a visual narrative of exploration and discovery.

The CRATER Concept is an exercise in what active lifestyle people would want in a possible XRT of the future. Did Hyundai Design group hit their mark or did they miss? Sounds off in the comment section.