Hyundai has just released a teaser for a mysterious debut, and we believe it could be a body-on-frame off-roader.

      Hyundai

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      Hyundai is set to make headlines on Wednesday at the 2026 New York Auto Show, but the automaker is keeping details under wraps and offers few hints. Could it be that Hyundai is gearing up to make a significant impact on the Raptor and TRX?

      On Monday, Hyundai shared a teaser video included below, featuring a large rock hovering above a person on what seems to be a mountain amidst the clouds. What does it signify? In simple terms, the body-on-frame Hyundai might be unveiled. Alternatively, there’s a possibility—though less logical—that it could be a production version of the Crater concept, which was electric.

      🚨 No jokes here, only big things in store on 4/1 📷Tune in Weds, 4/1 at 9:55 a.m. ET to the @NYAutoShow to see what we’ve been working on 📷 https://t.co/NKpjlCxSRG pic.twitter.com/UkqbfllcOA— Hyundai USA (@Hyundai) March 30, 2026

      Hyundai has already indicated that a body-on-frame truck will arrive in the U.S. by 2030, and an accompanying SUV is likely to be introduced alongside this upcoming model.

      The company is also making strategic moves by discontinuing the unibody-based Santa Cruz pickup earlier this year.

      What might this new model look like? The Hyundai Crater concept, unveiled in November at the 2025 LA Auto Show, provides a glimpse into the design philosophy of Hyundai’s team. Features such as punchy metalwork, a sloping roofline suggesting motion even when stationary, large tires, substantial tow hooks, trail sights, and ample ground clearance are all part of the design elements.

      Hyundai is determined to be recognized for its off-road capabilities as well. In November at the LA Auto Show, Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai North America, stated to The Drive that the automaker’s XRT trim “is not going to be a trim,” and that future products will be “100%” more capable than the current offerings on dealership floors. Hyundai is eager to capture a share of the adventure and off-road market segment, as Boyle added, “We’re bringing that true (off-road) capability and hardware to our vehicles going forward.”

      As of now, no product meets those claims. Boyle explained to The Drive in November that “You can do more with a body-on-frame platform than you can with unibody or monocoque, as it’s sometimes referred to in our company. And that opens up many opportunities. That’s the enabler.”

      While less likely, there remains a possibility of a production version of the Crater concept mentioned earlier. This concept was built on today’s E-GMP platform, which underpins models like the Ioniq 5, the now-discontinued Ioniq 6 in the U.S. (aside from the N model), and the three-row Ioniq 9 crossover. While Hyundai could produce a version of the Crater concept, the current trajectory of EVs in the U.S. indicates that a body-on-frame vehicle is more likely.

      And what if that body-on-frame SUV or truck is named … the Crater? Get it? Like an asteroid that impacted the dinosaurs.