RUMOR: When It Comes To The Hyundai Santa Cruz, It's Just A WAITING Game — No Green Light, Yet

Ever since Hyundai took the wraps off the Santa Cruz concept nearly a year ago, we've been closely watching to see if the Korean automaker would put it into production. The signs have been looking good, but this could be our clearest indication yet. According to the company's North American product planning chief, the road ahead is clear for the compact pickup.

"We're very anxious to do something with the idea," Mike O'Brien told AutoGuide. "The engineering feasibility work has been done," and 18 months of preparation have already gone into laying out the business case. Now all it needs is the green light from the head office...

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Dexter1 - 12/31/2015 3:29:30 PM

+7 Boost

Looks like it bumped into Audi's grille.

mpls - 12/31/2015 3:50:55 PM

-6 Boost

Actually this tyoe of grille is anyones, audi' origibal grille wasnt like this.. this 6 straight edged angle was started by hyundai, just look at the oroginal audi grille , it wasnlt like this.

MDarringer - 12/31/2015 6:36:27 PM

-5 Boost

The crossover pickup market is bound to take off. Hyundai needs to get this out there.

W208 - 1/1/2016 11:05:53 AM

+1 Boost

Maybe they'll succeed where Honda failed. I personally liked the Ridgeline. The majority of people aren't using their $50k+ trucks to their fullest.

I personally prefer a FWD based AWD SUV/Truck for snow. I'm still not sold on the auto 4wd systems used in pickup trucks even though I've previously used a GMC Sierra's in a brutal Canadian winter and it worked as designed.

There's just more comfort knowing if you get a little overzealous with a FWD-based AWD you're not having to worry about losing control of the rear.

MDarringer - 1/1/2016 11:56:44 AM

-5 Boost

The problem with the first Fridgeline was it was trying to be a real pickup and everyone knew it wasn't. The new Fridgeline is repeating that mistake with it wannabe real pickup proportions.

Crossover pickups will sell if they try NOT to be real pickups. Imagine:

Ford Ranchero / Escape with an extended wheelbase 2 door plus half doors
Jeep Comanche / either the Fiat Toro or a Stretched Cherokee

Engineering cost would be pennies.

HughJass - 1/3/2016 2:43:41 PM

+3 Boost

for people who want to look sporty like the ones who bought the Ford Sport trac. Nobody who needs a real truck will touch this unless their business is nearly bankrupt and cash is in short supply.

Probably based on an Accent chassis. Or they just reverse engineered a Tacoma.

MDarringer - 1/3/2016 7:16:09 PM

-5 Boost