By Jordan Grim • October 31, 2025 • 06:11 AM (PDT)
By Jordan Grim • October 31, 2025 • 06:11 AM (PDT)
The concept features a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and a vintage-inspired look.
The 2025 SEMA show is just around the corner, and Hyundai is bringing something big – literally. The automaker has teamed up with YouTube duo BigTime to present a project that blurs the line between a tech showcase and a trail rig.
Automotive personalities Jeremiah Burton and Zach Job helped Hyundai create this Ioniq 9 off-road concept. Think of it as a fusion of EV luxury and off-roading capability.
Ready for display inside SEMA’s Future Tech Studio, this Hyundai concept immediately impresses. It features a bright yellow paint job, a lifted suspension, unique wheels, and chunky all-terrain tires. Hyundai’s largest electric SUV looks quite good in a trail-ready guise.
A custom light bar and auxiliary lighting enhance visibility at night and add a bit more functionality to a vehicle clearly built for the trail.
Underneath it all is an Ioniq 9 Calligraphy. It features a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system, 422 horsepower (315 kW), and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. Notably, Hyundai hasn’t specified whether any mechanical modifications were made. Sean Gilpin, Chief Marketing Officer of Hyundai Motor North America, said, “This concept takes the IONIQ 9 into new off-road territory it hasn’t yet explored.” “Its aggressive lift, all-terrain tires, and rugged design inspire both innovation and customization—hallmarks of any successful SEMA concept.”
For Burton and Job, who rose to prominence through their fun, informative automotive builds, this collaboration marks a new direction in the EV world.
“EVs have come a long way, so it’s great to have the opportunity to put our touch on an off-road-themed IONIQ 9,” said Burton. “The theme for this IONIQ 9 came from our old 1977 Cabover, which we call Bud. “This look, which mixes new and old, gives it personality and strength.”
BigTime will showcase the SUV on its social media channels. Fans will have the opportunity to see behind-the-scenes footage of its creation.
This partnership demonstrates Hyundai’s flexibility in marketing a luxury flagship electric SUV. It doesn’t all have to be champagne and leather; sometimes it can be dust and light bars.
If the driver was indeed asleep with the autopilot engaged, it could raise questions about the effectiveness of Tesla’s driver monitoring system.
The electric car manufacturer will likely send engineers to analyze the Model Y and determine whether the driver-assistance system was engaged at the time of the collision and whether its warning systems functioned properly.