When is a pickup bed a trunk? Hyundai Santa Cruz thoughts. 

"Baconpocket" (baconpocket) 03/24/2015 at 17:22 • Filed to: None

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Hyundai is "considering" building the Santa Cruz concept that fills quite the niche. This news comes packaged with the announcement that they will not be building the Tucson on US soil. The combination of the two announcements is a little cryptic. Are they telling us that the Santa Cruz is based on the Tucson? (I would have guessed Santa Fe, which is built in Georgia). If they do build the Santa Cruz, how do the avoid a hefty portion of the profits paying for Germany protecting their chicken market?

This brings me to the point of my ramblings. Other automakers have skirted the tax by playing musical chairs. But what if this vehicle doesn't even conform to the spirit of a "light truck?" What if it's a high ground clearance sedan, with a removable trunk lid for occasional usage? Hyundai's phrasing in their press release "During the work week, gear for that early morning hike or after-work hockey game stays securely locked in the back, under an integrated, rigid tonneau cover that conveniently retracts when not needed."

Any experts on how the Fed actually classifies a light pickup truck? Is the language in the law too narrowly or too broadly defined? I know they revised this in the past to seal up loopholes, but I don't see the Santa Cruz as a direct competitor to domestic light pickup trucks. It has a much different expressed purpose.

HammerheadFistpunch > Baconpocket 03/24/2015 at 17:28

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I've read the code (a while ago) and its pretty much anything that can do, might do, looks like it could do...work.

Its pretty broad.

dieselectric > Baconpocket 03/24/2015 at 17:52

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When the entire rear light panel opens with the hatch, it is a trunk IMO. There is no way that you could legally drive with the "tailgate" down, as there would be no lights. Even the Subaru Baja allows this functionality, as does every other car-based pickup. This Hyundai is not a truck, it just has a uncovered trunk.

Alex from Toronto > dieselectric 03/24/2015 at 18:11

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It's a concept....

Definitely not going to look like this if it gets built.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Baconpocket 03/24/2015 at 18:19

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Judging from this panel space, Imaa gonna guess that this would be a side opening tailgate...which would be very cool.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > dieselectric 03/24/2015 at 18:31

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There is a section of the tail light side marker that is assembled into the fender...

It is quite likely that if the tail-gate is lowered, there is a supplemental LED tail light that wraps from the fender to the aft-facing bed wall edge, as well as the bed wall having a sleeved drawer action.

Needless to say... the "want" is VERY, VERY high, with a 300lb-ft of peak torque turbo-diesel, a gearbox with plenty of gears for a narrow-power-band turbo-diesel with said amount of peak torque, and true full-time AWD...

...and those looks and that size relative to an average height guy...

As long as those rear half doors articulate and open 180-degrees, rather than just 90-degrees (reverse-opening half-doors at 90-degrees create a trap in confined parking spaces)

This truck is GOOD TO GO. I want one. BADLY. This is a small truck GAME CHANGER.

Baconpocket > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 18:34

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my curiosity is sufficiently piqued. I'll try looking it up

Baconpocket > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 03/24/2015 at 18:39

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Actually pulls out like a drawer.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Baconpocket 03/24/2015 at 18:44

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That's not bad.... That illustration is exactly what i would need a small truck for.

dieselectric > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 03/24/2015 at 19:11

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Ok, this whole sliding drawer functionality changes things considerably. I do see how they could keep the lighting visible, and it is an interesting design. This still seems pretty far from a work truck though - really just a Hyundai take on the Chevy Avalanche but smaller and with some cool features thrown in.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > dieselectric 03/25/2015 at 00:27

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It is not intended to be a work truck. It is intended to be a personal cargo-versatile crossover, small enough for residential use, and urban parking.

It is intended to be the truck for people who don't need, have no desire for, and no space for the "work trucks" that already exist from the usual manufacturers.

dieselectric > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 03/25/2015 at 10:25

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I totally get it, and do think it could serve a outdoor lifestyle market segment. I am a huge fan of small trucks, and own a diesel Rabbit pickup that has served me well for over a decade. As with this truck, it is just barely possible to load two motorcycles in it, and surprisingly useful. Also, back to my original point about taillights, the Santa Cruz also looks like it has a wide cab-mounted center taillight which could also incorporate turn signals. So no issues there.