Savannah GA, March 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai revealed the Hyundai Santa Cruz, a cross between a car and a truck. "The Santa Cruz concept was definitely a showstopper!" says Mark Medinger, owner of Savannah Hyundai, "We love the concept."
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a new concept from Hyundai that is reminiscent of the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino. The look is surprisingly stylish. It has the nose of an SUV with the back of a short bed pick up.
"At Savannah Hyundai, we are excited about the possibility of selling this new pickup alternative," says Medinger. Hyundai is looking to attract a new group of drivers that they refer to as "urban adventurers." According to Hyundai, the concept for the Santa Cruz was conceived in the U.S., not Korea. It is designed to be practical for city dwellers that enjoy rugged weekend trips.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz will need to do better than crossovers of the recent past like the Subaru Baja and Honda Ridgeline. "I think the Santa Cruz would do great in the Savannah market," explains Medinger. Savannah is a unique city with narrow streets, a long history, and a river that runs through it. "People in Savannah love to go on little adventures and I think being able to throw gear into the bed of a pickup rather than inside the car would be an advantage. Nobody wants wet, dirty beach gear to mess up their interior," explains Medinger. Another advantage of the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the extendable bed.
Although the Hyundai Santa Cruz is still just a concept vehicle and has not been given the greenlight for production, Dave Zuchowski, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, seems very excited about making it. Zuchowski says the Santa Cruz is "one of the most researched concepts we have ever done…We're not interested in plowing the same old ground as everyone else."
Hyundai is trying to build a new segment which is never easy to do in the auto industry. "Instead of thinking of it as a mix between a car and truck, to me it is more like a mix between a pickup and a sport utility. It's for those drivers who like to get dirty and need a truck bed for their equipment, but don't have a need for extra payload capacity or towing capabilities," says Medinger, "Given a chance, I think Savannah drivers will love it!"
Savannah Hyundai is Georgia's flagship Hyundai dealership and serves Hilton Head, Rincon, Statesboro, Ft. Stewart, Savannah and the surrounding area. They are located at 7011 Abercorn St in Savannah, GA 31406 and their website is www.savannahhyundai.com.