Hyundai Motor said on the 21st that on the 20th (local time) it unveiled the compact off-road concept car Crater (CRATER) to the world for the first time at the 2025 LA Auto Show held at the Los Angeles (LA) Convention Center in the United States.
Hyundai Motor said the compact SUV concept car Crater embodies the design direction of Hyundai Motor Group's off-road-focused trim "XRT." Considering off-road driving conditions, the approach and departure angles were secured to protect the vehicle's front and rear bumpers. It features sculpted skid plates, side protection panels, rocker panels, and a three-dimensional hexagonal wheel design.
Hyundai Motor applied a fender design to the side of the Crater. It said it added a new pixel design, the Morflage Pixel pattern, to the wheel arches to convey rhythm and vitality while achieving balance at the same time. In particular, the interior design was chosen to highlight the characteristics of soft materials over exposed mechanical structures. In addition, the side camera is detachable so it can also be used as a flashlight or camera.
Executive Vice President Lee Sang-yeop, head of Hyundai Genesis Global Design, said, "Crater started from the question, 'What should freedom look like?'" and added, "Crater was born from endless curiosity and a spirit of exploration, and is a concept that allows customers to discover new experiences and feel the value of adventure."
Hyundai Motor also unveiled the high-performance EV sedan Ioniq 6 N in the North American market for the first time at this LA Auto Show. Based on a high-performance all-wheel-drive system and an 84.0kWh high-output battery, the Ioniq 6 N delivers a combined maximum output of 448kW (601 horsepower). When using "N Green Boost," which maximizes acceleration performance, the combined maximum output is 478kW (650 horsepower) and maximum torque is 770Nm (78.5kgf·m). The Ioniq 6 N is scheduled to launch in the North American market next year.
At this auto show, Hyundai Motor prepared an exhibition space of about 3,994㎡ and displayed a total of 33 vehicles, including the Crater, the Ioniq 6 N, the Palisade, the Ioniq 9, and the NEXO. It also created a separate "XRT Space" exhibition area of about 464㎡ to showcase six XRT lineup vehicles, including the Palisade XRT Pro, the Tucson XRT, the Santa Fe XRT, the Ioniq 5 XRT, and the Santa Cruz XRT.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor set up a "FIFA Zone" at its LA Auto Show booth to roll out a variety of global sports marketing activities. Hyundai Motor is the official sponsor in the mobility category for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.