Is a vehicle that can walk still a car? Hyundai will answer this odd question at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show on January 7 by unveiling the Elevate concept. Like a traditional automobile, it'll have four wheels, but the weird machine will also be able to walk on long appendages that will allow for getting around in extremely treacherous terrain.
More machines debuting at CES:
Hyundai is only releasing a single computer rendering of the Elevate for now but intends to show a full prototype at CES. The vehicle features a relatively skinny body with enough room for loading a stretcher inside. There also appears to be a hatch in the side that might offer an alternate way into the cabin, since there are no visible doors. The wheels mount to extendable legs that allow for a significant increase in ride height for overcoming obstacles. The tires don't appear to have much tread, which raises the question of how much traction the Elevate would have off-road.
The company claims the machine is capable of driving, walking, and even climbing through the help of robotics. We hope the automaker shows off how a person controls the rig because maneuvering the four legs and making the switch from steering the wheels into making them feet seems like a very complicated process.
Hyundai says the Elevate establishes a new vehicle category that the company calls an Ultimate Mobility Vehicle or UMV. We are curious to find out whether the automaker actually intends to put an all-terrain machine like this into production or if the firm is just hoping to grab attention at a crowded CES by debuting something very weird.
Source: Hyundai
Innovative Hyundai 'Elevate' Walking Car Concept Creates a New Vehicle Category, the UMV, Ultimate Mobility Vehicle
Wheels with robotic legs allow users to drive, walk or even climb over the most treacherous terrain
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 2, 2019 – At CES 2019, Hyundai will present a totally new vehicle concept. This vehicle combines the power of robotics and EV technology to take people where no vehicle has been before. The four-legged Hyundai ‘Elevate’ will redefine our perception of vehicular mobility. This design concept and prototype will be showcased at the Hyundai’s press conference on January 7 at 3 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay South Convention Center, Level 2, Oceanside B.
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About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond with its range of world-class vehicles and mobility services offered available in more than 200 countries. Employing more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai sold more than 4.5 million vehicles globally. Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with vehicles that are helping to build solutions for a more sustainable future, such as NEXO – the world’s first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV.