A mysterious Hyundai Tucson has shown up in South
Korea, courtesy SHM Studio. Codenamed ‘Hyundai GX’, it’s possibly an early
prototype of the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup. The next-gen Hyundai Tucson will
have a three-row version, and so, most would consider this test mule as that
car. However, the vehicle description sticker on the fender reads ‘GX’, whereas
the next-gen Hyundai Tucson goes by the codename ‘NX4’.
The Tucson’s platform will underpin Hyundai’s first
pickup truck, which was previewed by the Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept at
NAIAS 2015. The prototype’s body is longer than the production C-SUV, as
evident from the extended portion behind the C-pillar and the massive rear
wheel arch. Also notice that it is sitting higher from the ground at the rear,
another pickup-like trait.
Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice President and Head
of Hyundai Design Center, told Autocar last month that the production version
of the Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept is ready. “From my side it is
finished, the process to put it into production is now underway,” he said. One
possibility is that the lifestyle pickup will break cover sometime in 2020 and
go on sale shortly after.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz, or whatever it arrives as,
will target “urban adventurers” rather than customers looking for a tough
workhorse. There’s no word on a right-hand drive version, which would make it a
potential product for Africa and Oceania. Ford also plans to introduce such a
light pickup, by 2022. The Blue Oval's model will share the C2 platform with
the Focus and Kuga.
