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A new patent approved on April 28 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows that Hyundai and Kia are working on their own version of GMC Hummer EV’s CrabWalk or Rivian’s Tank Turn on their own. The patent says that it’s for a new method and system for controlling an “in-situ rotation mode” of a four-wheel independent steering type vehicle.

In the patent, the company says that the new four-wheel steering system is designed around “in-situ rotation,” which means that each wheel would turn independently up to 45 degrees in any direction. This would allow a vehicle to turn 360 degrees from a stop, enter and leave parallel parking easily, and critically keep up with the competition’s off-road ballets.

What vehicles could get the new system?

Hyundai four-wheel-steer patent
A Hyundai and Kia patent application for four-wheel steering | USPTO

Presumably, Hyundai and Kia could adapt the system for any vehicle. But the way the wheels seem to rotate independently, it would make sense that it would be for an electric vehicle. And, with the company’s new EV9 SUV and EV6 SUV coming to production soon, it would makes sense that on the four-motor platform they would add four-wheel-steering to keep up with the other four-wheel-steering off-road SUVs.

Of course, there has been a lot of talk about Kia and Hyundai developing a new pickup truck, and one that could take on the Rivian R1T at that. Maybe this is a hint at that vehicle’s four-wheel-steer system?

What is the GMC Hummer’s CrabWalk function?

Maybe you saw the Super Bowl commercial with Lebron James in the Hummer doing the CrabWalk? It shows his Hummer EV moving parallel to where it’s pointed.

According to the GMC Hummer EV’s manual, “CrabWalk Mode: Allows the driver to turn the rear wheels at the same angle as the front wheels enabling the vehicle to move diagonally. … At higher speeds the front and rear wheels will turn in the same direction. This improves stability of the vehicle during lane changes and wide turns”

Interestingly, when you enter CrabWalk Mode on the Hummer, a diagram of a crab shows up on the dash. The Hyundai/Kia version, however, would turn each wheel, while the GMCs mode turns each axle.

What is the Rivian R1T’s Tank Turn?

Customers are getting deliveries of their first Rivian R1T electric trucks. They’re quickly gaining fame as expensive flips on vehicle auction sites and are showing up on celebrity Instagram feeds, too.

But off-roaders are more interested what the four-wheel-drive truck can do in the dirt, not on Rodeo drive. One of the key features of the Rivian R1T is the Tank Turn, which allows the trucks to do a 360-degree spin in the dirt. Tanks turn by turning one tread in the opposite direction of the other. The Rivian basically does that, but with the wheels. The above video shows a truck spinning, and spinning, and spinning.

RELATED: Tesla’s Cybertruck Will Have 4 Wheel Steering Like Hummer’s Crab Mode

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.