QOTD: Should Hyundai Build A Production Version Of The Crater Concept?

by Tim Healey

Published: November 25th, 2025

qotd should hyundai build a production version of the crater concept

As I mentioned, the star of the LA Auto Show for me was the Hyundai Crater Concept.

For the simple reason that it looks cool.

I initially said I thought it wouldn't be built -- automakers typically use concepts these days to preview styling trends and/or as trial balloon for certain tech/comfort features. But a few folks I talked to in LA seemed more optimistic that it would be built -- either as a productionized version of what we saw, since concepts usually can't pass muster with safety regulators, or as the next version of an already existing Hyundai product.

I think it would be cool if the more outrageous bits were toned down and Hyundai offered it up as an off-road-oriented SUV.

What do you think? Sound off below.

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#QuestionOfTheDay #Hyundai #QOTD #HyundaiCraterConcept #AutoMobilityLA #Laas #LAAutoShow #LosAngelesAutoShow #2025LosAngelesAutoShow

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 25 comments

Seanx37 on Nov 26, 2025

It should already be on dealer lots

Like Reply
Luke42 on Nov 29, 2025

That thing will steal the Jeep Recon’s lunch money because Hyundai knows how to build and price an EV.

Tte question is how much lunch money the Jeep Recon has. Maybe not a lot??

Like Reply
- Bd2 on Nov 30, 2025
  
  Would sell better as an EREV...
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Normie I like Corey's posts because his earnest effort makes for a civilized comment space.And I get more information and curiosity from his lavish coverage of a car that was never "me" than from any articles I've seen about my cherished tall & boxies.
Bookish So some lawyer comes up with a scam to shake down the auto industry and the NYT makes it an ethical crusade against Ford. And you repeat it moralistically and uncritically.
Normie "Big Oil"From OZ?
AZFelix This generation of Cadillac articles also shows consistent placement of photos relative to the corresponding text.
Biff Finally the chickens have come home to roost. I have been saying this for three years: just wait until the EV’ers have to pay the road tax. Lets not forget that it’s California we are talking about and they have never met a tax they didn’t like. Plus it’s “the rich” buying new cars so its a double “lets tax’em!” The solution is simple enough. Have EV’s go into emissions stations as part of license plate renewal. Except here record the milage and get a bill for the cost. The rate should be around 1.5X the comparable gas size vehicle due to added weight. Lets watch the progessive politics swallow this one!