Hyundai Santa Cruz body leaked
SUV-based pick-up's bare body caught undisguised; will feature car-like monocoque platform rather than a tough ladder-frame chassisThe body of the upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz has been leaked online after it was photographed being transported around one of the Korean car-maker's premises.
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, the image of the completely undisguised dual-cab ute body is thought to have been captured in the US, possibly at Hyundai's Alabama plant, where the dual-cab pick-up will be produced later this year, ahead of a 2021 on-sale date.Built alongside the Sonata, Elantra and Santa Fe, the Santa Cruz is being developed under the 'NX4' codename and has been created specifically to target lifestyle buyers -- unlike the one-tonne 4x4 pick-up being readied for those who actually use their utilities for work purposes.
The car-like unibody design of the Santa Cruz, which will be closely related to the Santa Fe, bodes well for the way the lifestyle pick-up will ride and handle, but rules out a payload rating and towing capacity to match the likes of the Toyota HiLux.
Under the bonnet, Hyundai’s first ute will be powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. A hybrid version will also be available in the US.
While Hyundai's answer to the Ford Ranger is not expected to appear before 2022, the Santa Cruz will initially be produced exclusively for the US market from next year.
There's no word yet on whether the Korean car-maker has any plans for right-hand drive production in the future, but after a change of heart Hyundai Australia says it's now interested in introducing the four-dour crossover ute here.
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