The upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz has been spotted on test in the extreme cold in Europe and as a result of it, quite a few details of the light pickup truck have come to the fore.
To be unveiled in the USA later this year and launched possibly in early 2022, the Santa Cruz shares the same platform as the Tucson and will be manufactured at the brand’s Alabama factory starting this year.
Although the South Korean ute will be revealed in a few months, Hyundai wants to keep most of its design under wraps. But, through the camouflage, the new grille can be seen, along with the split front lighting feature.
Along the sides, the side mirrors borrowed from the Tucson, regular door handles, upswept waistline, good-looking alloys and body cladding can all be seen.
The car does not have massive gaps between the wheel arches and the wheels themselves. It does, however, come with a sunroof and a shark fin antenna.
Do note that the pickup features a small bed and the Hyundai Santa Cruz spotted on test has a flying buttress-style section that connects the bed with the body.
If you have a good memory, then you would remember that the namesake concept was unveiled 6 years ago, meaning Hyundai has had enough time to sort out every possible niggle.
What that also means is that Hyundai has time to change almost everything. Thus, unlike the concept, the Santa Cruz is more tame and gets a crew cab with 4 proper doors.
Expect the oily bits to be borrowed from the Tucson, including the all-wheel-drive system and down the line, electrified powertrains will also be offered.
It will rival the forthcoming Ford Maverick and Honda Ridgeline in the USA when it gets launched in 2022 and will target the millennial buyer. Prices will start around $30,000 (nearly Rs. 22 lakhs).
Image source – Carscoops.com