Hyundai has stretched the limits of its design department in recent months, but the Staria van it previewed in March 2021 blows the boundaries out of the stratosphere. Described by the brand as a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), it looks like a concept from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but it's real and it's headed to production.

MPV is another term for minivan, and Hyundai designers didn't try to make the Staria hip by giving it SUV-like styling cues. It's a monobox model with a roofline that's tall and flat, and a rear end that's almost perfectly upright. Even the blacked-out images released by the firm can't conceal the Staria's head-turning front end, which is characterized by an LED light bar that stretches across the entire fascia and headlights positioned at about the same level as the wheels. They're integrated into an extra-wide grille with bright mesh inserts. Out back, the lights are made up of individual dots that look like pixels, a feature we've already seen on the Ioniq 5 introduced in February 2021.

Hyundai proudly pointed out that the Staria resembles a spaceship. It added that the model depicted in the images is the Premium variant, which is a high-end version of the standard Staria that hasn't been shown yet.

Oversized side windows let natural light into a cabin designed with comfort and technology in mind. The dashboard is dominated by a portrait-oriented touchscreen that replaces nearly all of the buttons and switches normally found on the center stack. Meanwhile, the rear passengers travel on individual seats with retractable footrests. Hyundai promises that the Staria will deliver new experiences for drivers and passengers, but it hasn't yet detailed what it means by that.

Similarly, it's too early for the company to reveal technical specifications, so we don't know if the spacecraft inspiration continues under the hood. Engineering principles dictate that a grille this big is needed to channel cooling air to an engine, but design trends have proven that's not always the case. Even EVs sometimes get giant grilles.

Hyundai didn't develop the Staria to meet up with NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars; the van isn't even an outlandish concept. What you see in the images above is what the South Korean brand will begin building in later in 2021. The model will be available in select global markets; time will tell if America is one of them.

The Hyundai Staria van was revealed less than a month ago, but details were limited then. We got to see tons of photos both inside and outside Hyundai’s new van, but specs and U.S. availability remained massive question marks. Today, we can answer both of those questions.

Right off the top, Hyundai confirmed to us that it currently has no plans to bring the stunning and quirky Staria to the U.S — Roadshow initially reported this somber news. All minivan and van enthusiasts will need to look elsewhere for their fix.

As for specs, Hyundai promises two engine options for global markets. Europe will enjoy a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel engine that produces 175 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. They’ll also have the choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, making us all the more jealous. Other markets will have the option of a 3.5-liter V6 instead of the diesel. This engine makes 268 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque.

These engines will be able to move tons of people or things around with ease. You’ll be able to purchase 2-through-11-seat configurations from the factory, with the 2- and 3-seat options offering a maximum cargo space of 176.6 cubic-feet. For some perspective, the new 2022 Kia Carnival offers 145.1 cubic-feet of space with its second row removed and third row stowed away.

In addition to these vital specs, Hyundai revealed that it would be producing several variations of the Staria van in the future. For those wanting something more green, know that a fuel cell version is in the works. If you were thinking a van is too tall and cumbersome, Hyundai also says it’s going to make a wagon version of the Staria. We already know that one is going to cause our jealousy levels to rise off the charts.

Special versions of the Staria van are in the works, too, including limousine, camping car and ambulance versions. Hyundai previewed the limousine model at the end of the launch video embedded in this story. It appears even bigger and grander than the standard van and has more features inside. Occupants get an extra-high roof, center island, ceiling star lights (they look like the Rolls-Royce starry headliner) and a massive 25-inch monitor mounted from the ceiling to watch movies and shows on.