Hyundai turned its Santa Fe into a nitrous-boosted off-roader for SEMA

By Stephen Edelstein Published October 7, 2016

Off-road ability and the rugged image that comes with it are among the many reasons why consumers love SUVs. However, most modern SUVs are car-based crossovers, and so aren’t much better off-road than the average minivan or sedan. But what would happen if a carmaker decided to turn one of its crossovers into a genuine off-road machine?

That’s what Hyundai and the Rockstar energy drink company had in mind when they concocted the Rockstar Santa Fe concept. Set to debut at the annual SEMA aftermarket trade show in Las Vegas next month, it’s the kind of modified creation you’d expect a group of people to come up with after a night of pounding the energy drinks it’s sponsored by.

Recommended Videos

Hyundai turned the Santa Fe from a soccer-mom shuttle into a monster truck, installing a completely new suspension system that jacks up the ride height for extra ground clearance, and features aftermarket King shocks to soak up bumps. The Rockstar Santa Fe concept rides on massive 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw tires, fitted to 17-inch bead-lock wheels. Designed for off-road and military vehicles, bead-lock wheels allow the tire to be bolted to the rim, so it doesn’t come off if when deflated.

As if the wheel-and-tire package didn’t give the Rockstar Santa Fe enough attitude, Hyundai added LED light bars, rock sliders and bumpers, and a custom roof rack. A winch is also onboard in case the Santa Fe gets stuck somewhere out in the wilderness, although this rig will probably spend most of its time on display at auto shows. The interior is fully customized, with leather upholstery.

The 3.3-liter V6 shared with stock Santa Fes was treated to a custom exhaust system and nitrous oxide. That means it should make more than the stock version’s 290 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque, but Hyundai wouldn’t quote a specific power output. The Korean carmaker will also bring a 1,000-hp Santa Fe built by tuner Bisimoto to SEMA, so clearly there’s some potential in that engine.

The Santa Fe may be a competent family crossover, but it’s an unlikely choice for off roading, or modification in general. That just goes to show how crazy SEMA concept cars can get, and there are more on the way. Be sure to check back for the latest updates as SEMA draws closer.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Topics

Cars

Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV

toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Cars

Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Computing

Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers

Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.