This publication has long lamented the rise of the decidedly uncool and improperly named SUV. An SUV fails in a full two thirds of its named purpose by never being used either in sport or being sporty, and because they're often jacked up versions of what should be either a station wagon or a hatchback they also fail at usable utility. About the only reasonable and reliable thing that you can say about them, is that they are in fact a vehicle.
Therein lies why they are uncool. In being all things to all people, they cease to be anything exciting. Not even a Porsche badge in the case of the Cayenne or a Lamborghini badge in the case of the Urus can save them from a fate worse than a fate worse than death, which is uncoolness and rolling boringness. Now while I'm not exactly the most reliable witness as to what is and isn't cool, if I'm suggesting that a thing isn't cool, then you can bet that the cool people definitely don't think that it is.
Imagine then my spark of joy this week when Hyundai announced that they intended to bring to Australia, their Santa Cruz Utility; which is not only a utility but looks pretty cool as well.
I have it on reasonably reliable authority (that is that I heard it off a car dealer who heard it off of someone who heard it down at the pub) that the Hyundai Santa Cruz will be powered by the 2.5L four potter that is found in the Sonata. Okay, that doesn't exactly set the world on fire but the fact that they intend to build this as a unibody car and not a truck on rail frame, says to me that the people at Hyundai have determined that the people who are the most likely to buy this thing don't actually need a serious truck and want that most elusive of qualities, fun. The four door cab with the wee winky tray bed is also a tacit admission that the people who are likely to buy this thing are most likely to be hauling air in the back, most of the time. There's nothing wrong in principle to admitting the truth and designing a thing accordingly.
Am I likely to buy one? Initially, no. Am I likely to dream dreams about buying one? Absolutely. Right there is half of the answer to making a thing cool. Remember, all men without exception are merely big versions of our former smaller selves. We're born with a finger up our nose and then we get taller. If you can build a car which sells to the ten year old still within us, then you'll sell loads.
They could in theory make this way cooler. Hyundai have a 4.6L to 5.4L family of V8 engines called Tau. I bet that if they initially built a 350bhp V8 version of the Santa Cruz in both two door and four door versions, then they'd have an instant classic on their hands. It'd be even better if they took it to Bathurst to race in the 6 Hour, 12 Hour, or if they were prepared to throw a bit more money at the project, a V8 Supercars challenge. Imagine what that would do for the profile of the vehicle.
Plus, it would mean that it would actually be an SUV according to 100% of the three letter acronym. Moreover, instead of just being another people carrier for carrying groceries and sprogs around in, it would be cool and fun.
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