The Hyundai Boulder Indicates That the Age of Cyberpunk Car Interiors Is Approaching Quickly.

      Hyundai

      The latest automotive news and reviews, no nonsense.

      Subscribe to our free daily newsletter to receive the most important stories directly to your inbox every weekday.

      Today in New York, Hyundai unveiled a concept SUV designed to showcase the future of its body-on-frame vehicles developed for the U.S. market. This vehicle, named the Boulder, honestly resembles a mix of the 2004 Ford Bronco concept and elements of the Scout. However, I’d like to concentrate on the Boulder’s interior, particularly how it anticipates the futuristic trend of Cyberpunk-inspired car interiors.

      If the cabin of the Boulder seems recognizable, it's because it slightly evolves the design from last fall’s Crater concept. The dashboard features the same "Bring Your Own Device" rail system for what appear to be adjustable gauges and displays, along with a cylindrical section filled with large vertical meters and substantial rotating dials. The key distinction is that the Boulder incorporates more realistic materials like textiles and padding, whereas the Crater's metallic dashboard might pose an injury hazard in a collision—but who am I to judge?

      The automotive industry is now in a position where such designs are becoming more feasible rather than merely theoretical. We’ve seen a resurgence of buttons and other physical controls, which Hyundai acknowledges for its future models. On the Boulder’s dashboard, from the left, there are controls for differential locks, four-wheel-drive modes, what may be labeled "X TREK" (the vague rendering makes it challenging to decipher), and potentially dynamic stability control. A compass is positioned between these controls, and alongside each vertical display is a gear-like knob. Unlike the Crater that included a row of climate control toggles beneath, the Boulder does not feature these.

      Overall, the dashboard design of the Boulder effectively highlights its rugged nature. What's particularly fascinating is that instead of a large touchscreen dominating the center, Hyundai opted for smaller, modular screens that can be added, removed, or repositioned according to the owner’s preference.

      A few years back, my former colleague Peter Holderith pointed out that automakers should abandon the effort to fit every feature into a single mega-screen and instead distribute functions across localized panels that group similar controls. One example I admire is the lock and lights panel in the Lucid Air, located just to the left of the instrument cluster. The Boulder (and the Crater) really embrace this concept.

      Take those hollow, vertically rotating dials in the steering wheel—while they may not be practical for production, they certainly look impressive!

      The screens display current media (yes, “Sabotage”), an inclinometer, a map, and a closer look at the 4WD system’s activity. I’d love to see a scenario where Hyundai offers a variety of these screens, allowing owners to choose their preferred options for their vehicles. Many people appreciate technology in their cars as long as they have control over its implementation, and such an approach could cater to that desire. There’s also a lightweight heads-up display running along the windshield, which looks sleek; however, its readability in practical use remains to be seen.

      All in all, the Boulder and its predecessor, the Crater, exude a futuristic vibe without falling into the stark, impersonal minimalism that characterized car design in the previous decade and continues today. This indicates that Hyundai, along with likely many other automakers, is genuinely exploring ways to blend technology with tactile elements in a pleasing manner, instead of overwhelming everything with oversized screens and frustrating touch buttons. The Cyberpunk aesthetic has influenced the exteriors of many of Hyundai's recent models, and it finally appears ready to make its way into the interior design.

      Hyundai

      Have a tip? Contact us at tips@thedrive.com