Hyundai Motor Company is moving full steam ahead towards electrification, with radical proposals in all categories, sparking public interest. A few days ago, it held the world premiere of the pure electric vehicle INSTER as part of the Busan International Mobility Show 2024.
The new A-Class electric vehicle (EV) offers class-leading range, advanced connectivity, flexibility, cutting-edge technologies and a unique design. Its positioning in the small category is important, where the electric mobility game will be played out in everyday use in urban environments.
The INSTER will be launched in the Korean market this summer and will later be followed by a launch in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. An additional version, to be called the INSTER CROSS, will join the INSTER range in the future, featuring a different exterior design. Further details will be announced at a later date.
Today, we can see that the INSTER’s bold design combines a futuristic and innovative design with a spacious interior in a small body. At the same time, a package of advanced technologies contributes to the INSTER’s safe and refined driving, while also offering extremely fast charging and a class-leading range (AER) of up to 355 km.
In particular, INSTER is environmentally friendly while also boasting flexible driving dynamics and seamless connectivity. Its compact positioning provides greater performance compared to larger models. Building on the design heritage of Korea’s exclusive CASPER petrol engine introduced in 2021, INSTER’s styling evolution relies on an extended body and wheelbase to offer greater interior space and a robust road presence.
With its increased dimensions, the INSTER sits between the traditional A-Class city cars and the larger B-Class models, offering the flexibility and ease of use that buyers expect, with greater practicality and versatility thanks to a more spacious interior and increased luggage capacity. Compared to the larger models in the category above, the INSTER’s compact dimensions make it ideal for city driving and increase parking comfort.
The exterior design of the INSTER is characterised by a robust profile with clean surfaces, an aesthetic high-tech bumper and protective aprons that emphasise the front and rear design of the car. The INSTER’s personality is highlighted by the unique LED daytime running lights, pixel graphic indicators, tail light and bumper. Customers can further differentiate the car’s appearance with LED headlights and a two-tone exterior with a black roof for contrast. 15-inch steel wheels, 15-inch alloy wheels or 17-inch alloy wheels will be offered depending on the specification.
Inside, INSTER offers advanced technologies and comfort, thanks to a modern 10.25-inch high-tech digital instrument panel, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and a wireless charging dock that is part of a compact central console designed to create a greater sense of comfort and spaciousness.
The pixel theme is repeated inside, with graphics on the INSTER steering wheel further enhancing the car’s high-tech image. The interior design also features customizable door trim options for customers who wish to further personalize their vehicle.
The modern, high-tech interior of the INSTER offers flexibility and space, with the front row seats providing very easy access. All seats can be folded down – including the driver’s seat – for even more flexibility. The second row seats are 50/50 split-folding and can slide and recline.
INSTER’s exterior color options include Atlas White, Tomboy Khaki, Bijarim Khaki Matte and Unbleached Ivory, as well as several new hues including Sienna Orange Metallic, Aero Silver Matte, Dusk Blue Matte, Buttercream Yellow Pearl and Abyss Black Pearl. Some exterior color options will be available with a two-tone black roof for added contrast. Interior trim options include two-tone black, khaki brown and Newtro beige with full cloth upholstery.
Both the exterior and interior use sustainable materials. INSTER’s exterior features a glossy black recycled paint, which replaces the black pigment traditionally used in black paint with a color made from recycled tire waste. The interior uses recycled polyethylene (PET) materials from bottles and biopolypropylene extracted from sugarcane.
The INSTER stands out for its DC charging speed and maximum range, allowing customers to spend less time charging, travel more and make the most of the available energy. Equipped with a 42 kWh battery in its basic version, the INSTER is also available with a 49 kWh battery. Both versions are powered by a motor that produces 97 hp (71.1 kW) in the basic version and 115 hp (84.5 kW) in the version with the larger battery. Both versions deliver 147 Nm of torque. With a maximum range of 355 km (WLTP) on a single charge, the INSTER redefines what is possible from a small urban electric vehicle, offering impressive versatility with an estimated energy consumption of 15.3 kWh/100 km (WLTP). When using a high-power 120 kW DC charging station, the INSTER can charge from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes. The INSTER is also equipped with an 11 kW charger as standard.
The external and internal Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) mode provides power to external devices (110V/220V), enabling bidirectional charging without the need for additional equipment. This allows customers to freely use or charge devices such as electric bikes, scooters and camping equipment.
Along with its superior range and exceptional charging speed, INSTER offers a wealth of cutting-edge technologies, including a wide range of advanced safety and driver support features. INSTER features a digital instrument cluster and infotainment system, 64-colour LED ambient lighting, a sunroof and Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch (NFC).
Hyundai’s new all-electric (EV) A-Class features the most comprehensive technology package ever in the A-Class, including Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), Surround View Monitor (SVM), Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Rear (PCA-R), Blind Spot Monitoring (BVM) and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5 (FCA 1.5). Also available are Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA), as well as Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Safety Exit Warning (SEW), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go, Highway Driving Assist 1.5 (HDA 1.5), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), High Beam Assist (HBA), Lead Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA) and Rear Occupant Warning (ROA). The ADAS parking system combines front and rear Parking Distance Warning (PDW) with a Rear View Monitor (RVM) for improved visibility.