Hyundai has used the New York International Auto Show to unveil the Boulder Concept, a rugged SUV that previews the automaker’s first “fully-boxed” body-on-frame platform and a production midsize pickup that will use the architecture by 2030. The off-roader is targeted at the US and will be designed and built in the country using American steel.
The Boulder is meant to represent the best of Hyundai’s steel technologies with an “Art of Steel” design that combines strength and “functional flexibility” with looks that meld sharp lines and flowing shapes. It includes off-road staples like 37-inch mud-ready tires, a full-size spare tire and a roof rack, but also adds a few rare and unique touches. A double-hinged tailgate opens from either side, reflective materials highlight the door handles and tow hooks at night, and a Rivian-style powered rear window lets you carry long objects.
Boulder Concept interior
Technology for the trail
The Boulder’s interior reflects its adventure focus with durable elements, grab bars, and physical controls for “frequent-use” features. Four small screens replace the usual infotainment system, but there is also a large heads-up display in place of the usual instrument view. Fold-out tray tables help with field work and mid-drive meals.
Hyundai also envisions driver assistance meant for the trail. Optional guidance would help you navigate off-road conditions like a “digital spotter riding shotgun,” according to the company. While it’s not clear how this would work, skilled off-roading typically requires careful driving and settings to overcome steep hills, creeks, and mud.
As with most concept cars, we wouldn’t expect either the pickup or a theoretical production Boulder to share every detail. Practical concerns like cost and ease of manufacturing frequently lead to more conservative designs for production vehicles.
Will the Hyundai pickup truck be an EV or hybrid?
Hyundai hasn’t confirmed the choice of powertrain for the pickup based on the Boulder Concept. While there aren’t visible exhausts, there are no certainties that the truck will be an EV or hybrid. It still includes a front grille, for instance. The company is entering a market where the US government is removing EV incentives and otherwise promoting combustion-engine cars.
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However, Hyundai used the New York show to reveal plans for an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system that is primarily an EV, but uses a gas engine to boost the car’s range when chargers are unavailable. This would mirror the approach from VW-owned Scout Motors, whose Terra truck and Traveler SUV will both use EREV powerplants.
Whatever power sits underneath, the eventual pickup could be vital for Hyundai’s US business expansion. Body-on-frame trucks and SUVs are popular in the country, particularly the best-selling Ford F-150. Hyundai’s only truck at present is the compact, gas-only Santa Cruz. A midsize pickup potentially reaches a much wider audience, and might compete in a small electrified truck segment that includes the Scout Terra, Rivian’s R1T, Chevy’s Silverado EV, and Ford’s outgoing F-150 Lightning.
