Hyundai targets entry-level electrics with Inster

Hyundai has revealed the first teaser images of its new sub-compact city car, the electric Inster. It goes on sale overseas towards the end of this year. The name is sure to appeal to those into their Soc-Meds.

And that name is derived from “intimate” and “innovative”. The car itself is an evolution of the petrol-powered Casper, a Suzuki Ignis rival introduced in 2021. This was a car for Korea only and featured oversized headlights. It’s thought this feature will carry through to Inster, only with new lighting signatures. Expect also roof rails, and a beefy front bumper, above which is a charging port. In Korea, the new car will take the title Casper Electric.

Hyundai reckons Inster will set new standards in terms of driving range, technology, and safety features. Inside is a fully digital instrument panel. They say it will “redefine what buyers can expect from a vehicle in this class”. And they also suggest Inster will be “a new reference point for popularizing electric vehicles”.

The images suggest a compact SUV profile with LED daytime running lights. There are also pixel-graphic turn signals and tail lamps that define the new sub-compact EV’s design. These are trickle-down tech seen on cars like Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric.

Inster has a projected maximum range of 355km (WLTP) on a single charge. The company isn’t giving away any further information, except that it will debut at the Busan International Mobility Show later this month.

In and around Europe, the Inster will compete with the likes of the cheaper (less power, less range) Dacia Spring and the more expensive Citroen e-C3. That means a starting price of around £20,000.