The interior and exterior of the Hyundai Boulder Concept focusing on the driver's cockpit. The dashboard features four discrete square digital displays, chunky physical knobs and buttons for tactile off-road control, and heavy-duty grab bars. A fold-out tray table is visible on the passenger side, emphasizing the "mobile basecamp" utility of the cabin.
HARDWARE

37-Inch Rubber and Safari Windows: Inside the Rugged Tech of Hyundai’s First Real Truck

Hyundai just sent a shockwave through the off-road establishment. At the 2026 New York Auto Show, the brand didn’t just show another crossover; they pulled the wraps off the Boulder Concept, a “four-wheeled love letter” to the dirt. This isn’t the Santa Cruz. This is a body-on-frame beast designed to prove that Hyundai is ready to trade pavement for the toughest trails in America.

Here’s what you need to know.

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The Hardware: A Body-On-Frame Pivot

The Boulder isn’t a design study; it’s a platform study. This is our first look at Hyundai’s fully-boxed ladder frame, a new architecture confirmed to underpin an American-made midsize pickup arriving in 2029.

  • The Stance: It rides on massive 37×12.50R18 mud-terrain tires. This isn’t just for show—it provides the aggressive breakover angles required for rock crawling.
  • The Steel: Using Hyundai’s proprietary “Art of Steel” form language, the Boulder is designed, developed, and built in the U.S. using American-produced steel.

The “Visibility” Tech

The interior of the Hyundai Boulder Concept focusing on the driver's cockpit. The dashboard features four discrete square digital displays, chunky physical knobs and buttons for tactile off-road control, and heavy-duty grab bars. A fold-out tray table is visible on the passenger side, emphasizing the "mobile basecamp" utility of the cabin.

Photo: Hyundai

One of the most striking features is the upright greenhouse. Hyundai prioritized visibility, giving the driver a commanding view of the trail obstacles.

  • Safari Windows: Dual fixed windows on the roofline flood the cabin with light, a nod to vintage overland rigs like the Land Rover Defender.
  • Digital Spotter: From the driver’s seat, a software-driven real-time guidance system acts as a “digital spotter,” facilitating confident navigation through tight canyons and creek crossings.

Utility Innovations: The Tailgate and the Tray

The rear of the Boulder is where the “Hardware” really shines.

  • The Swing-Both-Ways Tailgate: The double-hinged design allows the tailgate to open from either side, making loading and unloading seamless even in cramped quarters.
  • The Basecamp Interior: Inside, Hyundai ditched the massive screens for satisfying physical knobs and buttons. The cabin even features fold-out tray tables, turning the interior into a mobile basecamp for a quick lunch on a ridgeline.

The “Art of Steel” Reality Check

A front three-quarter view of the Hyundai Boulder Concept SUV in Liquid Titanium finish at the 2026 New York Auto Show. The vehicle features a boxy "Art of Steel" design, massive 37-inch mud-terrain tires, roof-mounted safari windows, and a low-profile steel-webbing roof rack, positioned as a rugged body-on-frame competitor to the Ford Bronco.

Photo: Hyundai

The Boulder Concept is more than just a “Tonka Toy” for the 2026 New York Auto Show—it is the first tangible evidence that Hyundai is done playing it safe in the suburbs. By pivoting to a fully-boxed ladder frame and localized U.S. steel production, the brand is bypassing the “soft-roader” label and aiming directly for the enthusiast heartland.

Featured Photo: Hyundai

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Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.



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