Hyundai used the New York motor show to debut the Boulder Concept, a seriously rugged-looking SUV that will actually lead to a new medium-sized pickup truck from the Korean brand.
Wow, that's properly good looking…
Isn't it, though? Clearly, Hyundai was taking aim at the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco when it designed the Boulder Concept, and from its broad, low grille to its wildly extended wheelarches, it looks every inch the serious off-roader.
Where was the Hyundai Boulder designed?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Boulder Concept was actually designed in the US, by a Hyundai team based in Southern California. "The Boulder Concept demonstrates how Hyundai is seeking to give American customers more of what they want,” said José Muñoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company. "Body-on-frame vehicles are the backbone of American work and adventure, and we intend to compete in the midsize pickup segment with everything we have. The body-on-frame truck is one of 36 new Hyundai vehicles coming to North America by 2030. We are entering segments we have never competed in before, and we are doing it the right way: designed in America, built by Americans for American customers.”
What does body-on-frame mean?
You know how most cars are 'monocoques' - whereby the body and the chassis are one complete unit? Well, a body-on-frame is the other type, where there's a separate, usually very rugged, chassis to which the bodywork is then attached. The likes of the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok use this type of construction, and it's generally easier to make a rough-and-tumble off-roading, hard-working machine this way.
"Our body-on-frame Boulder Concept SUV is a four-wheeled love letter to the dynamic, off-road way of life that many customers have been asking us for in our future-focused research,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President, Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design Center, Hyundai Motor Company. "We are confident that something like this ultra-capable Hyundai SUV concept could more than fulfill the needs of this exclusive group of adventure seekers.”
It looks like a serious off-roader…
It is. The Boulder might be a concept car, but Hyundai has equipped it with some serious rough-terrain equipment, including oversized 37-inch mud-terrain tyres. Hyundai says the Boulder also has "aggressive approach, departure, and breakover angles for exceptional off-road agility” and a generous fording depth helps to keep things moving safely and securely.” There's also a specially designed off-road guidance system that works through the dashboard touchscreen.
The design also incorporates a lot of cool features, including rear-hinged back doors so that there's unimpeded access to the cabin; roof-mounted windows, like the original Land Rover Discovery, to let the light and the scenery in; and 'Liquid Titanium' paint which is set off by highlights such as the tow hooks and door handles that reflect light, designed to catch the eye especially at dusk or dawn.
There's more neat touches, such as a double-hinged tailgate that can be opened from either side (handy should Hyundai ever develop the Boulder for right-hand drive…) and a drop-down rear windscreen, for some serious off-road ventilation.
Inside, there are wear-resistant materials for frequent touchpoints, including the dashboard grab-bars, and it has retained proper physical buttons for major controls so that they're easier to use "even when bouncing over uneven terrain.”
When can I have one?
Well, you can't for now. The Boulder is just a concept that previews the styling of a new pickup truck model, which will, in all likelihood, not be coming to Europe or Ireland. Still, hopefully the Boulder also previews the styling of the next generation of Hyundai SUVs, because if they look this good, we'll all want one…