Hyundai has confirmed that its upcoming pick-up truck– called the Santa Cruz – will be built at its Montgomery plant in Alabama, United States, beginning in 2021. The model was first previewed by a concept of the same name a few years ago at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.
According to the Korean carmaker, the Santa Cruz combines the attributes of a compact sports utility vehicle with the day-to-day versatility of an open bed. The company adds that the Santa Cruz “creates a whole new segment that successfully combines capability and utility to meet the unspoken needs of a new generation of buyers, especially millennials.”
There are no technical specifications for now, but the concept features a 2.0 litre turbodiesel that produced 190 hp and 406 Nm of torque, with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system getting all that power to the road. Based on an earlier report, the Santa Cruz will also utilise a ladder-frame chassis rather than a unibody design, as the concept suggests.
It is also unknown how many of the concept’s design cues will make its way to the production version, including the rear-hinged doors and “tailgate extension,” the latter allowing the cargo bed to be expanded to match that of a mid-size pick-up.
To ensure the Montgomery facility is equipped to produce the “SUV ute,” Hyundai will invest US$410 million to expand the plant. This includes additional space in the stamping, welding and parts processing areas, as well as adding on 200 jobs.
“Bringing the Santa Cruz to HMMA (Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama) demonstrates that Hyundai Motor Company is confident our more than 3,000 team members are ready to build a quality crossover for the US market,” said Byungjin Jin, president and CEO of HMMA.
GALLERY: Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept
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Concept in 2016, built in 2021. This better not be just another pickup truck.