Hyundai Australia wants a ute. The Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger are the two best-selling vehicles in the country, and the Mitsubishi Triton is never too far behind.
Lacking a pickup is a significant disadvantage Down Under, in other words.
The brand has a dual-cab workhorse coming, but it won’t be here until 2023. When it does, it might look a little something like this.
These renders from Enoch Gabriel Gonzales take Hyundai’s design language and adapt it for a what looks to be a high-spec dual-cab ute.
Up front, the grille shares its shape with that of the Santa Fe SUV, while the twin-tier headlights are a mix of Nexo and Kona.
Down back, Gonzales has drawn up a set of taillights that have more than a hint of Mitsubishi Triton about them.
When it arrives, the Hyundai ute is expected to be a proper workhorse to take on the Ranger and HiLux.
Speaking in 2019, then-Hyundai Australia boss J.W Lee told media the company has sent researchers to Australia and other south-east Asian markets to research what’s required of a dual-cab ute.
The vehicle’s exact capabilities haven’t yet been confirmed, but expect a payload of around a tonne and a braked towing capacity of around 3500kg – any less would put the new ute at a disadvantage compared to its rivals.
Hyundai is targeting 15,000 annual sales for the dual-cab ute, which would help bump it above Mazda in the Australian sales race.
The ute under development is different to the Santa Cruz promised for the USA, which is expected to be a softer, more lifestyle-oriented vehicle.
