Hyundai has transformed its new Inster small electric car into a radical, race-inspired hot hatch, blending aggressive styling with a stripped-down interior. Drawing inspiration from video games, this bold reimagination pushes the boundaries of EV design.
Dubbed the Insteroid—a fusion of ‘Inster’ and ‘steroid’—this concept follows in the footsteps of last year’s RN24, a ‘rolling lab’ showcasing Hyundai’s vision for high-performance electric models.
The Insteroid sports a dramatically wide-hipped body with boxy wheel arches, a towering rear wing, and a functional roof scoop, all reminiscent of Hyundai’s World Rally Championship contenders.
Inside, the cabin is stripped to the essentials, featuring deep-set bucket seats, a roll cage, and a hydraulic-style handbrake, reinforcing its performance-driven ethos. However, it isn’t all about racing—Hyundai has equipped the Insteroid with a powerful ‘Beat House’ sound system, complete with a tube-style amplifier, and playful Space Invader-style alien graphics adorning key touchpoints.
Technical specifications remain under wraps, but the RN24 utilized a formidable 641bhp dual-motor powertrain from the Ioniq 5 N. That setup propelled the 1880kg car from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds, with an 84kWh battery delivering a 278-mile range.
“The Insteroid represents a modern take on the idea of a dream car,” said Eduardo Ramírez, chief designer for Hyundai Europe. “It is designed to inspire and create enthusiasm.”
While Hyundai insists the Insteroid is purely conceptual, its development—like that of the RN24—hints at an underlying ambition to bring a high-performance version of the Inster to life.
Hyundai has already expanded the Inster lineup with the rugged Inster Cross, set to arrive at dealerships soon. Looking ahead, Hyundai’s product planning boss, Paolo Gnerro, previously suggested that additional variants of the Inster could be explored during its lifecycle—provided there is sufficient customer demand.
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