Hyundai pondering new large crossover?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:31:00 EST

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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Hyundai Veracruz to end production "around November," replaced by Santa Fe

Scott Burgess — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Hyundai

Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik confirmed Wednesday that the all-new seven passenger 2013 Santa Fe will replace the Veracruz model. "The Veracruz is going away," Krafcik told Autoblog. "It ends production around November." Hyundai debuted the Santa Fe Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show in both five-passenger and seven-passenger configurations.

The seven-passenger Veracruz was a new nameplate for Hyundai when it rolled out in 2007. It never gained much acceptance in the U.S., so Hyundai has found a new way around that problem.

"It's hard to establish a new brand name," Krafcik said. "It can take $50 to $100 million dollars. Santa Fe is a golden nameplate for us, it's a great product, and now it will be much more efficient in my marketing spend."

Indeed. It will also be more efficient producing a five- and seven-passenger Santa Fe than two different vehicles. From the B-pillar forward, there will only be minor differences between the two Santa Fe models.

Furthermore, the new design of the Santa Fe moves it into Hyundai's stylized fluidic design theme, something that has been very successful with the compact Elantra and midsize Sonata. The Veracruz, which still included many of Hyundai's older design elements, just didn't fit in with everything else. Now, or at least in the coming months, it will be no more.

Hyundai Veracruz to end production "around November," replaced by Santa Fe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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