Hyundai’s concept walking car is exactly the future I envisioned

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When you think of Hyundai, what comes to mind? Small, sporty hatchbacks? Midsize sedans? How about sci-fi inspired quadruped walking vehicles, like the AT-ATs of Star Wars?

No? Well, prepare to get your mind blown. Hyundai’s Project Elevate looks like it walked right out of a movie. Which you know, it could. The walking, that is. Designed primarily for first responders, the ultra-mobile vehicle platform could also become a hit by enhancing the mobility options for those with a disability.

As you can see in the video below, the vehicle has four wheels, closer to the outside corners than on a traditional car. Instead of being attached to axles, those wheels are connected to four mechanical legs, that enable the car to walk, either like a mammal or a reptile. Yes, that means it can lizard-walk its way across the ice.

Check it out:

More about the vehicle

Built on Hyundai’s new E-GMP modular electric car platform, Project Elevate could be fitted with multiple bodies for different situations. It can drive at highway speeds when the wheels are folded away, while when the legs are unfolded it could climb a 5-foot wall or step over a 5-foot gap.

Hyundai sees this as a rescue vehicle for the most part, but have also come up with concepts for other use cases. Imagine calling a taxi that then could climb your front steps, letting you step (or roll) inside from your front door. Even delivery services could benefit, with your mailman never having to step out of their vehicle.

This concept is a great example of out-of-the-box thinking, and perfect for the CES environment. I can’t wait to see what other crazy things turn up this week.

What do you think? Would this help in emergency situations? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.