Hyundai unveils the INSTER sub-compact EV for Europe, starting at an MSRP below 25,000 euros
One week after teasing a European version of its Casper A-segment sub-compact EV called the INSTER, Hyundai Motor Group has officially unveiled the new mini-car, which holds a lot of potential with consumers. In addition to its sleek yet compact size, Hyundai promises the INSTER EV will hit Europe (and several other markets) at a starting price below 25,000 euros.
Today’s unveiling of the INSTER EV was inspired by Casper. No, not the friendly ghost, but the combustion vehicle from Hyundai that has been built and sold in South Korea since 2021. Last week, Hyundai teased an incoming all-electric version of the Casper as a “new standard for popularizing electric vehicles.”
Given its compact size and estimated affordability in the A-segment of vehicles, the Casper EV holds excellent potential for success, hence is why Hyundai is expanding its availability outside of Korea.
During the Casper EV announcement, Hyundai also shared its plans to offer the minicar in Europe, rebranded as the “INSTER.” Hyundai Motor Group has now unveiled the INSTER EV alongside some features and specs that future consumers in Europe will be able to take advantage of.
Hyundai INSTER EV coming to Europe later this year
Hyundai shared a press release detailing the new INSTER EV’s entry into Europe after officially unveiling the sub-compact during the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show earlier today.
By removing the combustion components in the original Casper vehicle, Hyundai’s redesign of the INSTER has enabled an extended body and wheelbase for more interior space. As a result, Hyundai shared the new BEV has found a sweet spot in the market between traditional A-segment sub-compact city cars and larger B-segment compacts.
The new Hyundai EV’s compact size makes it perfect for city driving and parking, two critical factors for driving in Europe. The INSTER comes standard with a 42 kWh battery pack, but customers can also upgrade to a long-range 49 kWh battery.
All versions feature a single motor that delivers 71.1 kW (~95 hp) in the base model and jumps to 84.5 kW (113 hp) in the long-range version. Either variant can create 147 Nm (108 lb-ft) of torque. Hyundai shared that the INSTER EV will offer a projected WLTP range of 300+ km (186 miles) in the standard version and up to 355km (221 miles) with the larger long-range battery (with 15″ wheels).
- Dimensions:
- Length: 3,825 mm
- Wheelbase: 2,580 mm
- Width: 1,610 mm
- Height: 1,575 mm
- Luggage Space: 280 liters (up to 351 liters with sliding rear seats)
- Max Speed:
- Standard: 140 km/h (~87 mph)
- Long-Range: 150 km/h (~93 mph)
- 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) Acceleration:
- Standard: 11.7 seconds
- Long-Range: 10.6 seconds
- AC Onboard Charger: 11 kW
- Charge Time: Standard: 4 hours (16A) / Long-Range: 4 hours 35 minutes (16A)
- DC Fast Charging 10-80%: 30 mins (under optimal conditions using DCFC with a minimum output of 120 kW)
Other features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities, battery preconditioning, and an optional heat pump. Hyundai still needs to share the exact pricing of the INSTER EV for Europe, but it has previously stated that it will be priced below 25,000 euros ($26,750).
Hyundai has promised more details as it approaches launching the new EV, which will arrive in Korea this summer before expanding to markets in Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific “in due course.”
Hyundai also teased a new variant of the new sub-compact called the INSTER CROSS in the works, described as having a “more rugged, outdoor-focused design.”
What do you think? Could this be another slam dunk for Hyundai Motor Group? Let us know in the comments below.
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Environment
Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec
JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
In December 2023, Baidu and Geely unveiled a second model called the JiYue 07. It was born from JIDU’s ROBO-02 concept, which debuted in 2023 and was designed to compete against the Tesla Model 3 in China.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
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This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.
The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 9:30 a.m. ET (or the video after 10:30 a.m. ET):
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Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.
U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.
Here are Friday’s energy prices:
- West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
- Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
- RBOB Gasoline December contract: $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
- Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.
The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.
A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.
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