Hyundai USA presented the NAIAS crowd with a bit of a surprise, coming in the form of a concept pickup truck. Baptized Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept, this, ladies and gents, is the Korean carmaker’s idea of a pickup conjoined with a crossover, aimed at the fast-paced urban jungle.
Combining the appeal of a modern crossover with the utility of a pickup truck’s bed, the Santa Cruz trucklet features a similar layout to the HSV Maloo ute or the good ol’ Chevrolet El Camino. But that outlandish construction isn’t the best bit about the 2015 Hyundai ix35 (Tucson in the United States) concept truck that Hyundai USA prouds itself with.
Mark Dipko, the director of corporate planning for Hyundai Motor America, said that “this new crossover allows them all the expandable utility they need throughout their active week, from work-life professionalism, to social interests, to a whole variety of outdoor pursuits, without the typical compromises they have come to expect from the industry’s current product offerings.”
Yes, the taillamps resemble those of the all-new Hyundai i20...
...and yes, this is just a fantasy vehicle, but that hexagonal grille up front and cascading line framing the sides are automotive porn. Brand snobbery aside, we really dig the lens-free lights and prominent LED fog lamps, as well as the big alloy wheels and yellow-painted Brembo calipers.
Another element classified as eye candy comes in the form of the rear-hinged rear doors which integrate seamlessly with the front door design, an aesthetic detail that’s practical at the same time. In terms of get-up-and-go, a 2-liter turbo diesel mill is there, delivering 190 horsepower and 300 lb-ft (406 Nm).
Naturally, an all-wheel drive is there as well, more specifically Hyundai’s HTRAC system.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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