THE futuristic new Hyundai Santa Fe mannequin has spawned a rugged XRT flagship variant that headlined the big SUV’s public debut on the latest Los Angeles motor present.
In comparable vein to Subaru’s ‘Wilderness’ variants that function manufacturing unit off-road modifications, the top-of-the-line Santa Fe XRT scores visible and useful upgrades geared toward adventurers, together with bigger all-terrain tyres, an additional 38mm of floor clearance and an elevated towing capability of 2041kg
GoAuto understands that Hyundai is aiming to develop XRT as an outdoorsy sub-brand in the same approach to its high-performance ‘N’ choices and that an upcoming electrified ute from the car-maker is earmarked to be one thing of a hero platform for XRT, a lot because the i30 is for N.
To date restricted to the North American market, the Santa Fe XRT may make its manner Down Below if Hyundai’s Australian outpost has something to say about it.
“We take a eager curiosity in all future Hyundai product, and XRT would make a terrific addition to our all-new Santa Fe vary, however at this stage nothing is confirmed,” mentioned Hyundai Australia public relations and customer support relations senior supervisor Guido Schenken.
“XRT is presently solely obtainable to the North American market.”
A Santa Fe Overlander Accent Idea was additionally on show in LA to point out the XRT’s customisation potential, its ladder-accessed roof rack filled with all of the goodies for a weekend away off the overwhelmed observe.
Hyundai’s ‘HTrac’ all-wheel drive system doesn’t supply options corresponding to low vary which many Australians have come to count on in an off-road car, neither is the XRT’s beefed-up towing capability that prime, which means it can’t function a real different to a Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
Hyundai Australia instructed GoAuto the brand new Santa Fe is on observe to succeed in sellers throughout the first half of 2024, with extra particulars to come back nearer to its native arrival.
It’s suspected that the larger, feature-rich new Santa Fe will price greater than the outgoing mannequin which is priced from $46,050 to $69,550 earlier than on-road prices.
The present-generation Santa Fe may even be the final to be provided with diesel or V6 petrol engines, drive as a substitute coming from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol creating 207kW/422Nm and a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid producing a mixed output of 173kW/367Nm.
The design theme, ‘Open for Extra’, positions the Santa Fe as an city exploration car with the power to embark on soft-roading adventures ought to homeowners want to enterprise off the blacktop.
Providing a serious makeover from the sleek traces and considerably suburban aesthetic of the present Santa Fe, the brand new mannequin is fashionable, boxy and on-trend with a silhouette that appears extra Land Rover than Hyundai at first look.
The fashionable SUV is clearly a extra formidable providing, too, delivering a do-it-all household car with a great deal of tech and luxurious way of life options aimed to maintain all three rows snug, entertained and hygienic.
Sure, hygienic, as a result of Hyundai has even fitted a UV sterilisation tray on sure spec grades to maintain two telephones freed from micro organism as they cost.
If the brand new Santa Fe appears to be like bigger than the outgoing mannequin, that’s as a result of it’s at 4830mm lengthy and 1720mm tall, in consequence providing a sizeable 725 litres of storage with the second row in place.
The bigger dimensions additionally make for considerably extra space contained in the cabin, which Hyundai says presents a ‘terrace-like residing house’ with the additional large tailgate opening to attach occupants with the surface atmosphere – when stationary, after all.
A mixture of eco-friendly comfortable and laborious supplies are used all through the luxurious inside, whereas a big panoramic show, consisting of twin 12.3-inch screens, handles infotainment.
Hyundai’s full suite of security know-how is featured on the Santa Fe together with an consideration warning system that displays very important indicators and inputs of the driving force, warning them if ‘low driving attentiveness’ is detected.
“Immediately, we’ve a well-recognized and revered portfolio of 14 SUV fashions that embody inner combustion engine, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electrical and hydrogen gas cell electrical fashions,” mentioned Hyundai Motor North America president and chief govt, José Muñoz.
“With the 2024 Santa Fe, we proceed our spectacular transformation of the Hyundai model and the broader SUV panorama.
“Our latest Santa Fe will appeal to much more clients with its daring, distinctive design id, spacious inside design, and distinctive capacity to fuse city buyer life with the pure exterior atmosphere.”
