There have been countless rumors about a Hyundai
pickup truck ever since the company unveiled the critically acclaimed Santa
Cruz concept at the North American International Auto Show in 2015. While the
model isn’t expected to go into production until 2020, a possible Hyundai
pickup has finally been spotted.
Posted by Almuraba.net, the pictures show a handful
of heavily camouflaged prototypes in a parking lot. The images don’t reveal
much, but we can see the model is a crew cab pickup with a long hood, sweptback
headlights and a relatively rakish windscreen – for a truck at least.
Moving further back, the model has an upward
sweeping belt line, a flat roof and a nearly vertical rear window. The bed
appears to be pretty accommodating for the truck’s size and it also features an
integrated liner.
As with most trucks, the rear end is relatively
plain as the model has vertical taillights and a rear bumper which is nicely
integrated into the body. The truck doesn’t have much in common with the Santa Cruz as the
concept was notable for its dynamic bodywork and stylish B-pillar. This
prototype looks more like a work truck and this seems to suggest the model
isn’t the long awaited Santa Cruz.
While nothing is official, previous reports have
suggested Hyundai has been considering two trucks which would be aimed at
different audiences. The production version of the Santa Cruz is slated to be a
lifestyle model designed to battle the Honda Ridgeline. The second truck, on
the other hand, is rumored to be a more traditional model that would compete
with the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in international markets.
