A fresh report out of Australia suggests Hyundai’s rumoured ladder-frame bakkie range is a “sensitive” topic for the Korean firm’s head office and still some way off.
Hyundai has long been thought to be working on a ladder-frame pick-up range (not to be confused with the upcoming unibody Santa Cruz lifestyle double-cab model) likely to be offered in both Hyundai and Kia form.
But Hyundai Australia’s chief operating officer, John Kett, has hinted a Korean rival for the likes of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger isn’t quite as near as many might think. Indeed, he suggested to motoring.com.au talks with head office had not progressed much at all.
“They [Hyundai head office] are incredibly sensitive just by us having the conversation,” Kett told the publication. “There isn’t really any development in the story. Nothing has happened since the last time we chatted. The story hasn’t changed,” he added.
Interestingly, a spokesperson for Hyundai in Australia furthermore confirmed the aforementioned, US-built Santa Cruz unibody pickup would not be built in right-hand drive (for the time being, anyway).
“Santa Cruz is not being made in right-hand drive but we remain interested in that vehicle, for sure,” the spokesperson told motoring.com.au. “At this stage, it is not available in right-hand drive and certainly not to the scale we would require.”
*Render above courtesy of Enoch Gonzales
