A prototype of what’s believed to by Hyundai’s long-awaited pickup truck has been snapped while parked in South Korea by The Keea.
It was just a couple of weeks ago that the carmaker confirmed production of the pickup will start in 2021 at its factory in Alabama alongside the Santa Fe, Sonata, and Elantra. The Santa Cruz was revealed as a concept way back in 2015.
It is believed that the production version will be a lifestyle-oriented pickup similar to the Honda Ridgeline and will later be joined by a 1-ton truck that’s also in the works.
Also Read: New Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Truck To Be Produced In Alabama And Go On Sale In 2021
The image of the camouflaged prototype reveals the Santa Cruz will share some key similarities to other existing Hyundai models. Up front, it would appear as though the prototype features a similar split-headlight design to the likes of the Santa Fe and Venue, while its rear side windows are similar in shape to the former’s. Elsewhere we can see silver and black wing mirrors with incorporated turn signals, and the presence of Hyundai-badged center caps on the wheels helps verify the pickup’s identity.
It is understood that the Hyundai Santa Cruz will come with all-wheel drive as standard, but details about engine options remain unclear.
Recently speaking about it, president and chief executive of Hyundai’s Alabama factory Byungjin Jin said: “Bringing the Santa Cruz to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama demonstrates that Hyundai is confident our more than 3,000 Team Members are ready to build a quality crossover for the U.S. market.”
