Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup set for production as design nears completion
Hyundai is finalising the production design of the Santa Cruz pickup, with a reveal expected as early as the Los Angeles Auto Show and US sales targeted for 2019.
Hyundai is moving ahead with its Santa Cruz pickup project, with the production model’s design now nearly complete. The South Korean manufacturer aims to reveal the final version as soon as the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, according to recent reports.
Expected launch and US focus
Hyundai is targeting the US market with the Santa Cruz, planning to bring the pickup to dealerships as a 2019 model year vehicle. If the Los Angeles Auto Show debut does not materialise, the company may instead opt for a reveal at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit early next year.
The decision to greenlight the Santa Cruz came after Hyundai’s business case reviews projected strong sales potential in the compact pickup segment. The company has not yet confirmed engine options, but Hyundai Motor America’s leadership has previously suggested that the Santa Cruz could be the firm’s best candidate for a diesel engine in the US market. Rather than using the European-spec 1.7- or 2.0-litre CRDi units from the Tucson, Hyundai is reportedly developing a new diesel engine for future Genesis models, which could also find its way into the Santa Cruz.
Design and platform details
The production Santa Cruz is expected to retain the concept’s compact size and unibody construction, distinguishing it from traditional body-on-frame pickups. By basing the truck on the Tucson crossover’s architecture, Hyundai aims to offer car-like ride quality and urban-friendly dimensions while providing the utility of a small pickup.
- Production design close to completion
- Likely to debut at a major US auto show
- Tucson-based unibody platform
- US launch planned for 2019 model year
Hyundai has not released official images or detailed specifications for the production model. Further information is expected once the vehicle is formally unveiled, with the company’s focus on capturing new buyers in the growing compact pickup segment.
