HYUNDAI not too long ago outed its off-road focussed Santa Fe XRT on the Los Angeles Auto Present, prompting hypothesis over if and when the model would make a return to the off-road SUV section it deserted in Australia with the Terracan again in 2007.
The South Korean model’s Australian division has dropped heavy hints that it’s concerned with replicating the XRT theme that has already been applied on some SUVs within the North American market however making a enterprise case for right-hand drive variations of inside combustion engine and hybrid fashions just like the Santa Fe XRT won’t stack up.
It’s a state of affairs which may power Hyundai Motor Firm Australia (HMCA) to attend for a future SUV based mostly on devoted battery electrical car (BEV) structure earlier than it might supply the primary real off-roader for this market because the Terracan.
Chatting with GoAuto on the latest launch of hybrid and battery electrical Kona small SUV variants in Canberra, HMCA product planning supervisor Chris Saltapidas stated the model was open to providing off-road autos as a part of an expanded SUV vary, however that restrictions across the availability of right-hand drive might rule out such a mannequin Down Underneath.
“For the time being, we will’t formally remark in regards to the (Santa Fe) XRT, however we may have one thing to say at one other date,” he stated.
“However to reply your query particularly, Australia is deemed in the intervening time by (HMCA guardian firm) HMC as one in every of its finest basic market areas – or export markets – which suggests we do have entry to quite a lot of issues different markets don’t, just like the not too long ago introduced MY24 Palisade, for instance.
“We now have quite a lot of open channels with head workplace, and we’re just about on most product applications which can be at the moment open globally.”
Whereas Mr Saltapidas was unable to offer particulars of simply which applications have been prone to bear fruit for Australian dealerships, he did say that the esteem with which Hyundai Australia is held at a world degree means it’s now simpler to have autos produced with particular market wants in thoughts – together with these for four-wheel drives.
“I wouldn’t say it (Australian Design Guidelines) is the difficulty it as soon as was. When a package deal is designed, it’s designed from the outset to fulfill every market’s necessities, so we’re not seeing the sticking factors we as soon as had,” he defined.
“ADRs, for instance, are all the time taken under consideration for every part that we do. What often will rule a product out is whether it is low quantity and/or not made for right-hand drive. Then it’s a case of being positioned within the too-hard basket.
“I feel we’ll all the time have these examples, although we’re closely concerned in each product program, as I stated. We nonetheless have hurdles, however I wouldn’t say ADRs are the principle hurdle anymore – the principle hurdle now’s right-hand drive, sadly.”
Shifting into the favored four-wheel drive section would give Hyundai showrooms leverage in opposition to each stalwart and newly launched autos throughout a spread of product sizes.
Whether or not which means the present vary of ICE-powered SUVs will endure modification in later iterations – or a brand new crop of battery electrical autos based mostly on the corporate’s devoted E-GMP underpinnings can be the popular possibility – was some extent Mr Saltapidas may solely allude to.
“I feel there’s positively a chance out there – and we’ve seen that by how nicely our rivals are doing in that house. There’s quite a lot of alternative not only for Australia, however globally too, and we’ve got realised that, and began to handle that abroad,” he hinted.
“For instance, the just-announced Santa Fe XRT you talked about, that’s been supplied as a dress-up package deal within the US on Palisade and Tucson already – and that’s one thing you’ll see extra of from an area perspective.
“There’s additionally a need to have that (an all-electric SUV with off-road functionality) on this nation, however at this stage we actually can’t speak about it any additional.”
