Hyundai just revealed the Boulder Concept SUV at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, which wore the “Art of Steel” design language, showcasing the versatility and formability of its advanced steel technologies. They’ve just released a 22-second teaser video, as well as a few images on social media, showcasing two more concepts possibly set to be revealed later this month. From the short video and mystic teaser photos, these new models could take the “Art of Steel” playbook and expand on its appeal by adding sharp, precision-cut aesthetics to the previously shown rugged, boxy appearance seen on the Boulder. One thing is for sure, they will spell the end for the current Ioniq line’s design direction.
Hyundai Isn’t Slowing Down With The Reveals
Hyundai announced a while back that it plans to bring at least36 new models to North America by 2030. That’s less than years away, considering we’re in 2026 already. While some may be re-vamped or new-gen models, we expect a few new names to join the roster, as well as at least one new platform — the body-on-frame underpinning a mid-sized pickup and, possibly, the Boulder Concept SUV. That said, they aren’t stopping with re-vamps and a few rugged vehicles, as the new teaser reveals the names of the two mystery models: Venus and Earth.
These could just be place-holders for pre-production ideas, or just nicknames to hide the future of certain models, considering the end of the video says “IONIQ” — likely signifying a new design direction for the electric lineup — but with a reveal coming later this month, we will soon find out for sure where they’ll take these, frankly, incredible designs.
The Venus And Earth Concepts At A Glance
Neither concept resembles the current design language of the Ioniq lineup, with each sporting sharp, angular lines similar to a precision-cut gemstone (a visual cue also shown in the teaser video). Both wear a matte-like finish, with the Venus sporting a gold coat and the Earth a gray. The rear end of the Venus boasts a bold rear angle blasting out with straight lines and sharp points, as well as slim cutouts housing the taillights, which are seen in purple. We can see what appears to be a small lip spoiler and a somewhat protruding bumper before the shadows cloak the rest of the Venus Concept’s rear.
The Earth Concept, again, wears a gray matte-like finish, with similar precision-cut angles forming the front end. We see slim horizontal slits atop the grille area, as well as vertical slits toward the front quarter, with light blue lights peeking through. The Earth Concept reveals a bit more in terms of overall design themes, with creases jutting down from the A-pillar and up from the wheel well, meeting only to continue around the front end, forming the bonnet’s outline. The bonnet appears to be fairly short, especially compared to the current Ioniq design cues. Though, when you squint, you can almost see the familial Ioniq/Hyundai design, with the sharp creases that divided shoppers in the early days of the current Elantra — similarly found on the Ioniq 5 — now convex instead of concave, and moved forward toward the front end instead of on the doors.
We Will Find Out The Truth In Less Than Two Weeks
According to Hyundai‘s Chinese website, which is hosting a “Hyundai Motor Ioniq Brand Launch Conference” countdown that ends on April 10, we may be less than two weeks away from finding out the mysteriously striking designs’ futures. Considering the Beijing Auto Show will be taking place on April 24, we could get more info on the Venus and Earth concepts leading up to the show. This is made more feasible due to the fact that, as mentioned, the end of the teaser video says “IONIQ,” and the Chinese website claims to be counting down to an “Ioniq brand launch event.”
Sources: Hyundai Worldwide, Beijing Auto Show