Skip to main content

Hyundai Insteroid is a one-off we really want, but may not get

Hyundai Insteroid
Hyundai / Hyundai

The Hyundai Insteroid is an eye-melting example of what can be generated when designers are allowed to have some fun.

This takes the Hyundai Inster EV, and turns that city-hopping micro-motor into a fully tuned performance machine that looks as fast as it does confident and charismatic.

Recommended Videos

The name alone is fun to play with: this is worthy of Insta photos but it’s also clearly all pumped up on ‘roids.

As you can see from the lead image, this has aggressive flared arches, a sharp front splitter and utterly massive air intakes on the side skirts.

Head around the back and you’ve got a spoiler that wouldn’t look out of place on a car double the Insteroid’s size. You’ve also got a new rear diffuser to add to the aggressive look on this street racer.

Even the wheels have had some serious attention to detail with variations to the front and rear. The front sporting those three circle spokes and the rear rocking some deep dishes in that punhcy red/orange finish.

Inside the fun continues with bucket seats and a roll cage, as well as a super specialized and minimal instrument cluster behind that race-spec steering wheel, complete with analogue buttons and switches.

Then there’s that audio setup in the boot space that’s impossible not to notice. It looks like a DJ has setup shop ready to play a gig right out of the back of this car. And perhaps that’s the idea. The audio kit, from Beat House, looks speaker heavy and color coded to match the car perfectly.

This is very much a concept at this stage, created by Hyundai to inspire the next generation of designers to push the boundaries of what’s possible. And perhaps to keep up with the – actually built – street racing beast that was recently revealed as the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.

Luke Edwards
Luke has over two decades of experience covering tech, science and health. Among many others, Luke writes about health tech…
Windows 11 may get the 3D emojis we were promised
Clippy returns to Windows 11 as an emoji.

Microsoft shipped new emojis in Windows 11 last year, but they caused quite some controversy as the emojis weren't actually 3D as the company first teased. There was never an explanation for that change in design, but it is now looking as though the originally promised 3D emoji could still be in the works.

Though Microsoft itself hasn't recently said anything about 3D emoji on its official channels, one of its employees sent indications about it. In a response to a tweet from a Windows 11 user lamenting the lack of 3D emoji, Nando Costa, who is the visual artist and design leader at Microsoft Design, said: "Thank you and agreed! We're working on that."

Read more
Tesla’s new Cybertruck trim goes low on price, high on range 
Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla has just introduced the most affordable variant of its Cybertruck in the US market. Carrying a sticker price worth $69,990, and dipping down to $62,490 with the federal tax credit applied, the new “Long Range” rear-wheel drive (RWD) model is quite an interesting package, in both good and odd ways. 

For starters, despite being the most affordable trim, it offers the highest per-charge mileage at 350 miles. The pricier All-Wheel Drive version delivers a range of 325 miles, while the top-of-the-line $99,990 Cyberbeast model can only muster 301 miles. 

Read more
Subaru’s electric comeback starts now: Trailseeker EV to debut in NYC
subaru trailseeker ev debut 2026 4  thumb

Subaru is finally accelerating into the EV fast lane. The automaker is officially teasing the 2026 Trailseeker, an all-new electric SUV set to debut at the New York International Auto Show next week. While details are still scarce, the Trailseeker marks Subaru’s long-awaited second entry into the EV space, joining the Solterra — and the expectations couldn't be higher.
The teaser image offers only a glimpse of the Trailseeker’s rear badge and taillight, but the name alone suggests rugged ambitions. It's a clear nod to Subaru’s outdoorsy heritage. But in the EV space, the outdoors belongs to brands like Rivian, whose upcoming R2 compact SUV is already turning heads. The Trailseeker is Subaru’s chance to reassert its identity in an electric age.
Currently, Subaru’s only EV is the Solterra, a joint venture with Toyota that shares a platform with the bZ4X. While the Solterra nails some Subaru essentials — all-wheel drive, spaciousness, and off-road capability — it falls short on key EV metrics. Reviewers have pointed to its modest 225-mile range, slow 100kW charging, and unremarkable acceleration, especially compared to rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5  or Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The hope is that Subaru has learned from these criticisms and is poised to deliver a more competitive product. The Trailseeker could either be a variation of a newer Toyota EV (possibly the next-gen C-HR+), or something entirely new under the shared platform strategy. Subaru previously announced that its next three EVs would be co-developed with Toyota, before launching four in-house EVs by 2028.
Given how long Subaru has waited to expand its EV offerings, the Trailseeker has to deliver. It's not just about adding a second electric model — it's about keeping pace with a market rapidly leaving legacy automakers behind. If the Trailseeker can improve on the Solterra's shortcomings and channel that classic Subaru ruggedness into a truly modern EV, it might just be the spark the brand needs.

Read more