Hyundai has revealed its Santa Cruz Concept and the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Santa Cruz is a pick-up truck aimed at trendy urban types who want the versatility of a truck but in a more compact and city-friendly size. Some markets already get the Sonata Hybrid and a plug-in version seems like a logical development; it will go on sale later this year, but probably not in Ireland.
The Santa Cruz is designed to be about the same size as a crossover; to get around the limited carrying capacity Hyundai has designed an extending tailgate that increases the load bed length when needed. It also gets a rigid, retracting tonneau cover for the load bay to keep items secure and hidden. Inside there is space for five people and under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre, 190hp turbodiesel engine.
We don't get the Sonata in Ireland but in some markets it is already available with hybrid power. For the plug-in version a larger battery pack and more powerful electric motor are fitted. In pure electric mode it has a maximum range of 35 kilometres and charging the lithium polymer battery takes five hours from a typical American domestic supply. Combined power output of the 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor is 202hp.
Anything else?
According to Hyundai the Santa Cruz is aimed at people under 30, who currently buy just seven per cent of all pick-ups sold in the US. Current offerings don't meet the needs of these customers and something compact, efficient and manoeuvrable is needed to attract the custom of so-called 'urban adventurers'.