Hyundai’s new electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, looks like a beast as an off-roader. The IONIQ 9 off-road concept is more than up for the adventure with a few “BigTime” upgrades.

Meet the Hyundai IONIQ 9 off-road electric SUV concept

We knew Hyundai was up to something after an IONIQ 9 prototype was caught rocking a rugged new look earlier this month.

Although it was camouflaged, you could clearly see it had a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and other added features, suggesting an off-road variant was in the works.

Now, we are getting our first official look at the off-roader. Hyundai revealed the IONIQ 9 off-road concept for the first time ahead of the SEMA Show 2025.

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As we expected, the concept features a similar look to the prototype spotted earlier this month with a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and unique wheels. One thing we did not see was the custom auxiliary light bar on the roof.

Based on the range-topping IONIQ 9 Calligraphy, the off-roader delivers up to 422 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque with an AWD powertrain.

Hyundai is working with BigTime content creators, Jeremiah Burton and Zach Jobe, to bring the off-road electric SUV to life. The concept will be showcased in SEMA’s Future Tech Studio, a dedicated section at the event to emerging EV tech.

The off-road electric SUV is “more than up for the adventure,” Hyundai Motor North America’s marketing boss, Sean Gilpin, said after unveiling the concept for the first time.

Hyundai drew inspiration from “Bud,” its 1977-vintage cabover, to give the electric SUV a modern twist on the vintage classic.

The IONIQ 9 off-road concept will be showcased at the SEMA Show, starting on November 4. Check back next week for more photos and details.

Although Hyundai didn’t say, the rugged concept could hint that an IONIQ 9 XRT is in the works, similar to the IONIQ 5 XRT.

Given that the IONIQ 5 XRT starts at $55,400 in the US, sitting below the Limited AWD trim, the IONIQ 9 XRT would likely see a similar pricing structure. The current range-topping IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy Design trim starts at $78,090.

Hyundai has the 2025 IONIQ 5 XRT listed for lease starting at just $379 per month right now with the 2026 models arriving. The 2026 model year is available to lease for $419 per month. Hyundai’s three-row IONIQ 9 is listed with monthly leases starting at $419.

Interested in test driving Hyundai’s electric SUVs for yourself? You can use our links below to find models in your area.

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO and Elon Musk’s rival in AI, has tried to cancel his Tesla Roadster reservation and get his $50,000 deposit refunded.

But it’s not as easy as it looks.

Tesla unveiled the next-generation Roadster in 2017. At the time, it took reservations with $50,000 and $250,000 deposits, depending on whether people wanted the Founders Series.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the new Roadster would enter production in 2020.

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It didn’t.

Every single year since, the CEO claimed that the vehicle would enter production the following year, but it never did. It has become a sort of running joke.

The fact that Tesla couldn’t bring the vehicle to production has led many reservation holders to cancel their reservations, a process that has reportedly been difficult.

Many reservation holders reached out to Electrek over the years to describe how difficult it was to get their money back. Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee recently shared his experience with the process.

Now Sam Altman is having a similar problem. He took to X to share that he wanted to cancel his Roadster reservation, but the reservation email was shut down:

The OpenAI CEO is a supercar enthusiast and revealed that he reserved the Roadster in 2018.

He said:

“I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait.”

His post went viral with over 5 million views.

The timing is interesting, as we just reported that Tesla looks to be finally taking steps to bring the Roadster to production.

Musk, who notoriously despises Altman, has been claiming that Tesla will hold a demonstration of an updated Roadster before the end of the year.

However, he said that before, and it didn’t happen.

Electrek’s Take

The new Roadster is entirely in its “I’ll believe it when I see it” phase for me, regardless of job listings for Roadster battery manufacturing.

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TENWAYS, the e-bike brand known for its increasingly sleek and refined yet affordable city e-bikes, is shifting gears with the launch of its newest model – the Wayfarer. Debuting today, the Wayfarer blends city practicality with trail-ready capability, offering a 500W rear hub motor that peaks at 750W and a massive 85-mile (137 km) range.

From smooth city rides to off-road adventures

Tenways made its name back in the early days of the pandemic-era electric bike boom, coming off a successful crowdfunding campaign that introduced its first commuter model. That lightweight, belt-driven e-bike quickly won fans across Europe and helped launch the company’s path towards a growing product lineup. Since then, the company has grown a devoted following for its bikes that often featured torque sensors, Gates Carbon Belt Drives, and whisper-quiet powertrains.

But for the most part, the company has stuck with relatively modest power levels – at least, until today. With the Wayfarer, Tenways is taking its original formula and adding a lot more muscle.

The new Wayfarer is designed to handle city streets and light off-road terrain with equal ease. It’s powered by a 500W Bafang rear hub motor that can deliver up to 750W of peak output, giving it plenty of punch for hills, headwinds, and acceleration from stops. The intelligent sensor system automatically switches between torque and cadence sensing for smooth, natural-feeling power delivery, and a detachable throttle adds an extra burst of speed when needed.

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The top speed is set at 20 mph (32 km/h) is Class 2 compliant, but riders can unlock pedal-assist up to 28 mph (45 km/h) for Class 3 compliance.

Comfort that goes the distance

While power is a big part of the story, comfort is clearly the focus. The Wayfarer includes a wide, premium saddle that’s both supportive and plush, a suspension seatpost, and a front suspension fork to smooth out city potholes or gravel paths.

The step-through frame makes mounting and dismounting easy for all riders, and the adjustable stem lets riders dial in their perfect handlebar position. Together, these features make long rides – or even daily commutes – feel effortless.

A 720Wh removable battery built with high-performance 21700 cells provides up to 85 miles (137 km) of range per charge. It’s UL-certified and features advanced overcharge, discharge, and thermal protection for dependable performance and long life.

Smart features and all-weather readiness

Like most Tenways models, the Wayfarer comes loaded with tech. The Bafang LCD display includes a USB-C charging port for accessories and password protection, while the Tenways App lets riders track mileage, performance, and ride stats directly from their phone. A MIK-compatible rear carrier allows easy swapping of accessories for commuting or shopping, and Apple Find My integration adds peace of mind by letting owners locate their bike if it’s misplaced or stolen.

Safety has been given equal attention. The Wayfarer features hydraulic disc brakes, rear turn signals, and puncture-resistant Kenda tires with reflective sidewalls for visibility. The electrical system carries an IPX6 weatherproof rating, so you can ride confidently through rain and splashes. A throttle safety limiter also prevents accidental activation when the bike is stationary – something I haven’t seen on very many e-bikes before.

Priced at $2,199 USD (with an early-bird discount of $300 using code EARLYBIRD300), the Wayfarer continues Tenways’ mission of delivering premium design and technology at a more accessible price than many European rivals.

The company says every component is built to meet “top-tier standards,” and if the Wayfarer rides anything like Tenways’ earlier models, it’s likely to feel refined yet powerful – the best of both worlds.

Electrek’s Take

The Wayfarer sounds like the natural evolution of Tenways’ design philosophy: a clean, understated e-bike that finally packs the kind of performance and comfort riders have been asking for. It does look like it’s starting to get a bit heavier, but that comes with the territory when you start using bigger motors and batteries. Tenways was always known for lightweight bikes, so hopefully this still feels light.

The price puts it a couple steps higher than the typical budget e-bikes available in this class in the US, but it seems that Tenways is shoping that the brand’s legacy combined with the additional tech such as the location tracking, as well as the other app features, will help set things apart.

I’ll likely get a chance to review this one soon, so let me know in the comments what you’re specifically looking for, and I’ll try to address it when I get my hands on one. But based on my past experience with Tenways e-bikes being light and easy-riding commuters, I have high hopes for this one!