The upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup has
been spied testing for the very first time near the Arctic Circle, having
previously been snapped out-and-about in Korea on a handful of occasions. This
Santa Cruz prototype looks much the same as others and is bathed in camouflage
and thick cladding to hide its design. The most obvious difference between this
prototype and the original Santa Cruz Concept is the crew cab design replacing
the extended cab setup.
It is understood that much of the pickup’s
design will echo the concept although it appears as though it will receive a
dual headlight design more akin to other existing Hyundai models. As for the
rear, it is totally covered in camouflage and it’s hard to pinpoint any
noteworthy design features. That being said, the sloping C-pillars from the
concept are visible.
Hyundai has previously confirmed that the
Santa Cruz will be produced at the firm’s plant in Montgomery, Alabama starting
in 2021, leading some to speculate that it could be based on the Santa Fe. If
this proves to be the case, Hyundai will likely sell the Santa Cruz will two
four-cylinder engines. The entry-level one would be a 2.4-liter unit delivering
185 hp and 241 Nm of torque while there could also be a turbocharged
2.0-liter with 235 hp and 352 Nm of torque.
Hyundai says the Santa Cruz will be aimed
at Millennials who “want all the traditional attributes of a compact utility
vehicle, but need the day-to-day versatility of an open bed.”
