Hyundai is kicking off excitement for the Los Angeles Auto Show with the first official teaser sketches of the Hyundai CRATER Concept, an extreme off-road SUV show vehicle set for its global debut at AutoMobility LA 2025. The reveal happens on Thursday, November 20 at 9:45 a.m. PT, and Hyundai will livestream the entire event on its official YouTube channel for fans and industry watchers around the world.
The CRATER Concept will also be on display throughout the AutoMobility LA media days and at the Los Angeles Auto Show public days, running from November 21 through November 30. With Hyundai pushing the CRATER front and center, there’s little doubt this is one of the brand’s most ambitious concept showcases in years.
A Rugged Hyundai Off-Road SUV With XRT DNA
At first glance, the CRATER Concept looks like Hyundai’s boldest take yet on the modern adventure SUV. Hyundai describes it as a compact off-road show vehicle infused with toughness, capability, and an explorer’s spirit. The sketches reveal sharp, armored geometry—almost lunar-rover-like—mixed with the confidence of a truck built for volcanic landscapes rather than mall parking lots.
Designed at the Hyundai America Technical Center (HATCI) in Irvine, California, the CRATER Concept draws inspiration from extreme natural environments. That design language echoes the rugged direction Hyundai has taken with its growing XRT lineup, including the IONIQ 5 XRT, Santa Cruz XRT, and the new Palisade XRT Pro. The CRATER pushes that attitude into full show-car mode, mixing futuristic silhouettes with functional adventure cues.
What the CRATER Concept Means for Hyundai’s Future
While Hyundai hasn’t revealed specs, powertrain details, or production plans, the CRATER Concept feels like more than just a design study. The brand’s recent moves—performance N models, bolder EV styling, and the expanding XRT sub-brand—point to a strategy that blends lifestyle vehicles with advanced engineering. The CRATER fits neatly into that momentum.
Concepts like this typically serve as a temperature check for future consumer demand, and Hyundai clearly understands the exploding interest in compact off-road SUVs. With HATCI leading the project, the CRATER showcases some of Hyundai’s most forward-thinking American design work and could preview a new generation of rugged electrified or hybrid adventure vehicles.
How to Watch the Hyundai CRATER Concept Reveal
Hyundai will livestream the official debut of the CRATER Concept at 9:45 a.m. PT on November 20, 2025. Fans, journalists, and off-road enthusiasts can tune in through HyundaiUSA’s YouTube channel to watch the unveiling as it happens.
And for those heading to the show in person, the CRATER will be on display throughout AutoMobility LA and the entire duration of the 2025 LA Auto Show. Expect crowds—Hyundai’s latest concept looks like a headline-grabber meant to anchor this year’s event.
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