Hyundai pondering new large crossover?

[Sal Collaziano]

Filed under: Crossover, Hyundai



According to a report in Ward's Auto, the pale fortunes of the soon-to-depart Hyundai Veracruz aren't stopping Hyundai from considering another dedicated seven-seat crossover. Although the new Santa Fe will usher in a long-wheelbased sibling that can seat seven, Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik advises Ward's to "stay tuned for future details on a potential premium crossover" that could be a dedicated - read: Veracruz replacing - CUV for seven.

The question is, what does "premium" mean? The word was applied to the Veracruz but customers didn't exactly buy it, cross-shopping the Veracruz with mass-market competitors. Ward's uses a barn-sized brush to lay out the competitive set for this future CUV, from the $18,995 Dodge Journey(!) to the $46,250 Audi Q7. That's a boggling range, the prime takeaway being that whatever it is will be obviously more "premium" than the Veracruz. According to Ward's, "Hyundai has expressed a desire to use the rear-wheel drive platform underpinning its premium Genesis and Equus sedans for other models, possibly CUVs."

Just as important for the moment is that Hyundai believes there's a fight it can still win in the arena of large crossovers.Hyundai pondering new large crossover? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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[Ruissimo]

I'm thinking this will be an Infiniti JX / Lexus LX competitor, probably based on the new Genesis/Equus AWD platform?

I could see my wife driving one of those when our minivan goes... though the extended wheelbase Santa Fe is looking MIGHTY FINE:

 

[PMCErnie]

Hyundai will need to tackle large vehicle fuel economy. Ford is driving hard with their EcoBoost engines.