Hyundai Santa Fe survives trip across the Antarctic

Hyundai recently released a short film of its Antarctic expedition, which featured a near-standard Santa Fe as well as Patrick Bergel, the great grandson of legendary polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Shackleton’s heroic Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914-16 has been regarded as an epic feat of endurance, and the journey is meant to commemorate just that. The goal? Attempt to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent, something that the expedition failed to accomplish.

This involved driving the Santa Fe from Union Camp to McMurdo and back again, which meant some modifications had to be done to the SUV. Gisli Jonsson from Arctic Trucks was tasked with preparing the vehicle for the expedition, which surprisingly involved minimal alterations being required.

“It was a pretty standard Santa Fe. The engine, the management system, the transmission, front differential and driveshaft were all completely standard. We did have to fit big, low-pressure tyres though – they are important as it’s all about getting the vehicle up on top of the snow rather than ploughing through it.

“We were running on one-tenth of a normal road tyre pressure – it’s so soft you can drive over someone’s hand and it won’t hurt them! The car ‘trod’ so lightly that all our tyre tracks were gone by the time we came back,” he said.

Other mods include a larger fuel tank; converting the car to run on Jet A-1 fuel, the only fuel available on the continent; and to install a pre-heater for the cold. The modified Santa Fe had to survive the 30-day expedition, covering a total of 5,800 km of icy terrain where temperatures feel to minus 28-degrees Celsius.

“The journey was incredible and the car was a pleasure to drive. Sometimes it felt less like driving and more like sailing across the snow. It was a proper expedition with a challenge to accomplish that nobody else had done before,” said Patrick Bergel.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Redidiot on Apr 25, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    So much for flat earth…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Redidiot on Apr 25, 2017 at 4:31 pm

    On the other hand those arches and wheels and tyres combo look great!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • bolehland on Apr 25, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    Back in the 90’s, our Wira conquered the North Pole with just only one start of ignition. Maybe Proton can send the new Persona to the South this time

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Alias on Apr 25, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Whats the big fuss??
    20years ago, Proton Wira alredi landed intact in North Pole during skydiving.
    No problem starting the car even under extremely cold weather condition of the North Pole.
    The team even managed to drive the car around the thick snow and snow storm. Malaysia Proton Boleh!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
    • stasta on Apr 27, 2017 at 2:14 pm

      i hope you are aware that proton wira is a rebadged mitsubishi.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Copernicus on Apr 25, 2017 at 5:14 pm

    They didn’t fall off from the edge of the world? Until now still got people believe in Flat earth…LOL

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Them bashers belip in it. They belip that countless nonsensical bashings can change anything. Lolz!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 7
  • Sam Loo (ori1) on Apr 25, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    Yeah, and it will not survive depreciating by 70% within a year in Bolehland

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Amri Majid on Apr 26, 2017 at 10:50 am

    Well, Clarkson and May managed to do it

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • fanofthisite on Apr 26, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    polluting the antartic

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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