---
title: "Hyundai Really Wants to Build Those Wacky Walking Vehicles"
description: "Hyundai formed the New Horizons Studio to build its \"Ultimate Mobility Vehicles\" like the weird but useful four-legged Elevate concept."
date: "2020-09-29"
modified: "2020-09-29"
authors:
  - name: "Stef Schrader"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stef-schrader"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/36808/hyundai-really-wants-to-build-those-wacky-walking-vehicles"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Porsche News"
tags:
  - "Hyundai"
---

# Hyundai Really Wants to Build Those Wacky Walking Vehicles

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/09/umv_970x546.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Hyundai [announced](<https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/3152>) the formation of its new New Horizons Studio on Monday dedicated to hyper-capable "Ultimate Mobility Vehicles." These vehicles combine wheeled travel and robotics to travel over even the harshest off-road terrain. So far, the concepts also look like giant human-carrying [Boston Dynamics dogs](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/34147/boston-dynamics-futuristic-robot-dog-can-be-yours-for-75000>).

It's the stuff of [science fiction](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/25774/hyundai-wants-its-cars-to-park-and-hook-up-to-ev-chargers-on-their-own-in-the-future>), and Hyundai Vice President Dr. John Suh, who's leading the New Horizons Studio, knows it.

“We aim to create the world’s first transformer-class vehicle, also known as the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle,” notes Dr. Suh.

![message-editor%2F1601437283495-35014-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1601437283495-35014-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg>)
**Hyundai**

TRANSFORMER-CLASS. Will this fold back down into an [i20 WRC](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/36158/wrc-champ-shows-you-how-to-drive-a-rally-car>)? Should I be looking to Hyundai instead to finally deliver on that life-size [Gundam](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/36693/i-will-remain-disappointed-in-japans-life-sized-gundam-until-it-starts-destroying-my-enemies>) I've always dreamed of? Why am I asking you these things instead of Hyundai?

They're not to giant laser-shooting battle suits just yet, sadly. New Horizons Studio's first project is to further develop the [Hyundai Elevate](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/25760/hyundai-elevate-concept-is-a-robotic-walking-car-with-sci-fi-looks>) concept from the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. The Elevate has wheels on its four legs, meaning that it can pick up those legs to get to otherwise unreachable locations.

![message-editor%2F1601437028561-35012-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1601437028561-35012-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg>)
**Hyundai**

Hyundai believes that the Elevate could be useful as a first responder vehicle in natural disasters, or as a vehicle that can pick up wheelchair users who may not be able to travel down a ramp to get into a car. Back the Elevate directly up to the door, and let them skip the stairs.

Personally, I can't get the idea of this thing dominating the [King of the Hammers](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/18851/watch-what-king-of-the-hammers-2018-was-like>) out of my head. Just walk right over those rocks.

![message-editor%2F1601437311256-35006-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1601437311256-35006-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg>)
*Hyundai*

![message-editor%2F1601437346557-35007-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1601437346557-35007-hyundaielevatewalkingcarconcept.jpg>)
*Hyundai*

*\[H/T [Autoblog](<https://www.autoblog.com/2020/09/29/hyundai-new-horizons-studio-extreme-mobility-vehicles/>)!\]*

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## Author
Stef Schrader is a former senior staff writer for The Drive. She started writing about cars in 2013 after meeting Jalopnik's editor-in-chief at a race track, where Stef can be found at every available opportunity.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefschrader/>)  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/stefthepef>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/stefthepef>)