Hyundai unveils INSTEROID gaming‑inspired electric city car

Hyundai Motor Company has revealed the INSTEROID, a concept electric city car that expands on its ultra‑compact INSTER model. The name blends “INSTER” and “STEROID” and the design draws heavily on classic video‑game aesthetics, featuring pixel‑style graphics on the roof and doors, wide‑track wheels, a large rear wing and aggressive aerodynamics.

The vehicle includes a “Drift Mode” that releases tire smoke while a custom audio system plays music, and the interior is fitted with a roll‑cage, shell‑style seats and a non‑touchscreen dashboard. Materials such as a lightweight lattice structure and a 3‑D knit recycled‑fiber upholstery demonstrate Hyundai’s focus on sustainability and performance. INSTEROID has already been integrated into several video games, including Japanese Drift Master, Asphalt Legends Unite and Roblox, marking it as the first electric model to appear in an open‑world drifting title.

Developed by Hyundai’s European design team, the concept is presented as a manifesto for a future where automobiles become interactive, emotive spaces that merge mobility with pop‑culture imagination.