Speaking in a recent interview, John Kett – CEO of Hyundai Australia – dispensed some info about the Korean marque’s first mass-produced pickup truck to come next year. While not official, many believe the car will be based on the Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept shown here.
According to Kett, the ute (AU/NZ slang for ‘utility vehicle’) already has an approved design and is currently being conceptualized from the functional point of view. It comes based on a ladder-frame chassis, the likes of which are used by the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Hilux. The model will ship in several cab sizes and FWD/AWD versions.
The company points out that it receives both technical and financial assistance from Kia.
The launch timeframe remains unknown, but we wouldn’t expect the ute to come into the spotlight until next year.