Latest news with #HyundaiSantaCruz
Motor 1
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Hyundai Is Building a Real Pickup Truck
The Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup debuted in the US in 2021, and it's been a solid alternative to the Ford Maverick ever since. But it's not a real pickup truck—it's a Tucson with a bed. Now, though, Hyundai has confirmed production of a real, genuinely capable pickup. It just probably won't be for America. Hyundai Australia CEO, Don Romano, confirmed to Drive that the company is working on a new mid-size ute—aka, a pickup truck. It will compete against body-on-frame alternatives in the region, like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and its cousin, the new Kia Tasman. 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Photo by: Hyundai "I'm confident a ute will be on the schedule," Romano said in the interview. "But I'm not certain on the time. The time will depend on the type of ute we develop. If we use a body-on-frame platform like the Tasman, that could be soon." The details are still murky, by Romano's own admission, and it's unclear what would even power the pickup. He floats diesel, hybrid, and even fully electric options as possibilities. Given Australia's ever more stringent emissions regulations, sharing a platform with the Tasman seems unlikely. But, Hyundai could look to General Motors for help; the duo recently inked a deal for joint truck and van production. "We would look at what is available from GM,' Romano told Drive. "My goal is to keep looking forward, and we have a strategic alliance with GM, but not just on utes. We want to have a number of options, and GM is part of that." Hyundai hopes to have its new pickup in production in Australia within the next three years. As for the Santa Cruz, don't expect any major changes to the compact pickup for the US. The tiny truck just recently got a facelift. 69 More Truck Stuff Is This Ram's Compact Truck for America? America Is Falling Out of Love With Huge Trucks: Report Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Toyota's Secret Weapon? Why a Compact Pickup Could Shake Up the U.S. Market
It's been a hot minute since Toyota has had a small pickup in the United States market, but rumor has it that's going to change in the next few years. Currently, there are just two small trucks available: the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. With midsize and full-size trucks growing in size and increasing in price, there's a massive gap waiting to be filled-and there's a reason no automaker has closed it. The lack of a small pickup in the Toyota lineup has its roots in the Chicken Tax of 1964, which insulated domestic automakers from foreign light-duty vehicle imports. As I've discussed previously, the U.S. light truck market is still feeling the ramifications of the tariff 60 years later. While South Korean automakers are exempt from the 25% tariff due to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, hence the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Japanese manufacturers aren't as fortunate. As a result, Toyota's compact pickup would likely be produced in the United States. Toyota isn't exactly shy about using the Corolla nameplate, and rightly so, considering it's the best-selling vehicle of all time, as well as a household name. So far, we have four iterations of the moniker, including a crossover, hot hatch, hatchback, and sedan. If Toyota were to emblazon the Corolla's name on a compact truck, it'd be the fifth in the lineup. Regardless of the name, the Japanese automaker has been listening to dealer requests for a smaller truck to slot beneath the Tacoma for some time now. "We're looking at it," Mark Templin, Toyota's U.S. Chief Operating Officer, told Bloomberg. Considering Toyota is shifting towards hybrid powertrains, odds are a new compact truck would follow suit. After all, the best-selling Toyota Camry is only available with a hybrid powertrain, as is the Toyota Sienna and a handful of other models. Ford has already set a precedent for a hybrid powertrain within the segment as well. When the Maverick debuted back in 2021, a 191-horsepower hybrid powertrain came standard, while a turbocharged four-cylinder engine was available as an upgrade. For the sake of speculation, if Toyota were to release a Corolla-based compact truck, can we expect a performance model similar to the GR Corolla hot hatch? It'd certainly fill a niche, but whether such a thing is worth exploring is questionable at best. Despite their prowess and dedication to the full-size truck segment, Chevrolet and Ram have yet to introduce a compact truck. To make matters more confusing, while Chevrolet offers the Colorado, Ram has yet to introduce a midsize truck of its own. There is a glimmer of hope from Ram, though, as according to the automaker, a midsize pickup will join the ranks as early as 2027. That still leaves the compact pickup segment in a rather interesting state, though. Ford and Hyundai are the only two manufacturers with a small truck in their lineups. Whereas the Ford Maverick sold more than 130,000 units in 2024, the Hyundai Santa Cruz lagged behind with around 32,000 units sold. While it doesn't tell the whole story, badging plays a role in the compact truck segment's performance. Ford is known for making trucks, Hyundai isn't, and that alone could be the difference for Toyota, too. Toyota has been building trucks for years, and its reputation for reliability and longevity speaks for itself. If the Japanese automaker were to introduce an affordable compact pickup at Corolla-level pricing, it could end up taking the entire segment by storm. While Nissan could introduce a compact truck alongside the Frontier, it doesn't seem like the automaker is in the financial position to do so. Nissan is in a precarious position, and considering it ended production of the full-size Titan, I wouldn't hold my breath on a new compact model. Then again, Nissan did reaffirm its dedication to the United States market, so there's a chance, right? "North America is a key market, and we are taking quick actions to get us back to growth and set the stage for the exciting products to come," said Christian Meunier, chairman, Nissan Americas. It's no secret that midsize and full-size trucks have grown exponentially compared to a decade or two ago. Having recently driven a Chevrolet Colorado and Ford F-150, I can see why consumers might opt for a compact truck. Interestingly, while Ford has introduced the Maverick to fill that void, Chevrolet and Ram have been slow on the uptake. Now that Toyota seemingly has plans to introduce its own compact truck, I can't help but wonder if the two American truck brands will add a compact pickup of their own in the near future. Then there's a wild card in the mix: Slate. What effect could the compact all-electric pickup have on the segment? Currently, electric trucks are limited to full-size models, like the Ford F-150 Lightning, and are often on the more expensive side. The introduction of an electric compact truck could turn the entire segment on its head, provided it's a good offering. No matter how you look at it, the compact truck segment is picking up steam, and it's only a matter of time before it boils over. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota Compact Truck Rumor Might Be Thanks To Slate
Read the full story on Backfire News There's been rumbling for at least two or three years now that Toyota is going to release a new compact truck in the US. Those rumors have flared up big time in the last week with stories about the possibility featured in many news outlets. But all of them miss the boat entirely that this move has more to do with Slate than anyone every one of these articles, the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are the focus. That's understandable because at the moment those two are the only compact trucks for sale in the US. But they've been around for several years, yet Toyota hasn't done much to fight them. While it's possible Toyota has something already in development and is getting closer to a reveal, the timing of this surge in talk is curious. After all, Toyota is the master of timing, like when it allowed Honda to expend tons of resources to bring the hybrid Insight to the US, then blew right past it with the Prius. Likely, it's been developing a plan to do something similar to Ford and Hyundai with their compact trucks. But this new surge in talk coincides with the Slate reveal. That generated surprising excitement as a highly customizable, cheap, and modular electric compact truck. Toyota likely sees Slate as the most viable threat at this point. Whatever it's been cooking up, the Japanese automaker probably feels the Maverick and Santa Cruz are jokes in comparison, which isn't too hard to imagine. But Slate, a company with no reputation or customer base, has already racked up over 100,000 reservations. That's going to make Toyota stand up and notice. Exactly why Toyota finds Slate threatening isn't clear, but we have a funny feeling once we see its new compact truck, it might make more sense. This very well could be a pitched battle between an industry giant and a new kid on the block. Image via Cameron Scholtz/Facebook Marketplace
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Toyota may build compact unibody bakkie
Toyota has a broad global presence with market-specific products, and now rumours have emerged of a potential compact bakkie. The caveat is that it could only be for the US market. Looking for a new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! Toyota chief operating officer in the US Mark Templin confirmed this initiative, indicating a potential new offering positioned below the established Tacoma. This exploration is driven by a notable market shift where new vehicle acquisition costs, including those of 'pickup trucks', have steadily increased. The demonstrable success of vehicles like the Ford Maverick, which offers a lower entry price point and substantial sales volumes, underscores the significant demand for more accessible and physically smaller utility vehicles in the US. This contrasts with the comparatively lower sales performance of competitors such as the Hyundai Santa Cruz, providing valuable insights for Toyota's strategic planning. Cooper Ericksen, a senior vice-president at Toyota Motor North America, affirmed the company's strong belief in the segment's potential, stating: 'We could really do well in that segment, so we're trying to do it. It's a matter of timing.' While Toyota is reportedly engaged in developing a compact bakkie for the Brazilian market, its introduction to the US would necessitate careful consideration of trade policies. Related: Toyota Gives New GR Hilux EVO Land Cruiser Beige Hue Should Toyota proceed, a compact bakkie would likely leverage its established reputation for reliability and potentially integrate its hybrid powertrain technologies. This combination could offer a compelling value proposition, providing practical utility and fuel efficiency at a price point distinct from the larger Hilux. Obviously, the success of such a model would hinge on competitive pricing, functional design, and adherence to Toyota's high standards for quality and durability. Digital artist Theottle has already transformed the 2026 Toyota RAV4 into a bakkie by extending its wheelbase and rear overhang to create bed space. He then removed the SUV's rear roof and cargo area, replacing it with a functional open bed. The front and mid-sections largely retain the RAV4's distinct new styling, directly converting the SUV's platform into a bakkie. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Toyota May Build Compact Unibody Bakkie appeared first on CAR Magazine.
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Smaller Toyota ute to rival Ford Maverick a matter of when, not if
Toyota is reportedly serious about offering a smaller, potentially car-based ute which would slot in under its existing pickups. "We're looking at it," Toyota USA chief operating officer Mark Templin told Bloomberg. "We could really do well in that segment, so we're trying to do it," said Cooper Ericksen, a senior vice president in charge of planning and strategy at Toyota Motor North America, in a separate interview. "It's a matter of timing." It's unclear whether Toyota's more compact ute would have petrol, hybrid or electric power. However, Bloomberg reports Toyota engineers were spied testing the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz – both car-based unibody utes, unlike Toyota's body-on-frame Tacoma and HiLux – near its technical centre in the US state of Michigan last year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. A smaller ute would slot into the company's US lineup under the Tacoma, which replaced the HiLux – known there as the Pickup – back in 1995. The current Tacoma is a newer vehicle than our HiLux, riding on the TNGA-F ladder platform that's shared with models like the Prado and offering a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. By launching rival for the Maverick (pictured above) and Santa Cruz, Toyota could offer US buyers a more affordable ute. While it may not have quite the level of off-road and towing capability as the HiLux or Tacoma, it could offer a more car-like driving experience. The Hyundai Santa Cruz has been a fairly steady if not enormous seller in the US, with 32,033 sales last year, but sales of the Ford Maverick rose 39 per cent to exceed 100,000 annual units for the first time. The final tally was 131,142 units, which pushed it well past the Ford Ranger. Ford sold 46,205 Rangers in the US in 2024, placing it third in its segment and well behind the top-selling Tacoma (pictured above), which posted 192,813 sales. This mooted new Toyota ute would appear to be different to the HiLux Champ launched in Southeast Asia, which is a boxy, ladder-frame, more back-to-basics counterpart to the HiLux that undercuts it on price. Toyota has also confirmed it'll launch an electric ute in Europe by 2026, potentially pointing to a production version of the unibody EPU electric ute concept (above) revealed at the 2023 Tokyo motor show. There have also been reports out of South America that Toyota will launch a car-based, hybrid-powered ute in Brazil in 2027 resembling the EPU concept. Whether this vehicle will be a Latin American-only product – such as unibody utes like the Ram Rampage and Chevrolet Montana – or be additionally offered in North America and other markets remains unclear. Content originally sourced from: Toyota is reportedly serious about offering a smaller, potentially car-based ute which would slot in under its existing pickups. "We're looking at it," Toyota USA chief operating officer Mark Templin told Bloomberg. "We could really do well in that segment, so we're trying to do it," said Cooper Ericksen, a senior vice president in charge of planning and strategy at Toyota Motor North America, in a separate interview. "It's a matter of timing." It's unclear whether Toyota's more compact ute would have petrol, hybrid or electric power. However, Bloomberg reports Toyota engineers were spied testing the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz – both car-based unibody utes, unlike Toyota's body-on-frame Tacoma and HiLux – near its technical centre in the US state of Michigan last year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. A smaller ute would slot into the company's US lineup under the Tacoma, which replaced the HiLux – known there as the Pickup – back in 1995. The current Tacoma is a newer vehicle than our HiLux, riding on the TNGA-F ladder platform that's shared with models like the Prado and offering a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. By launching rival for the Maverick (pictured above) and Santa Cruz, Toyota could offer US buyers a more affordable ute. While it may not have quite the level of off-road and towing capability as the HiLux or Tacoma, it could offer a more car-like driving experience. The Hyundai Santa Cruz has been a fairly steady if not enormous seller in the US, with 32,033 sales last year, but sales of the Ford Maverick rose 39 per cent to exceed 100,000 annual units for the first time. The final tally was 131,142 units, which pushed it well past the Ford Ranger. Ford sold 46,205 Rangers in the US in 2024, placing it third in its segment and well behind the top-selling Tacoma (pictured above), which posted 192,813 sales. This mooted new Toyota ute would appear to be different to the HiLux Champ launched in Southeast Asia, which is a boxy, ladder-frame, more back-to-basics counterpart to the HiLux that undercuts it on price. Toyota has also confirmed it'll launch an electric ute in Europe by 2026, potentially pointing to a production version of the unibody EPU electric ute concept (above) revealed at the 2023 Tokyo motor show. There have also been reports out of South America that Toyota will launch a car-based, hybrid-powered ute in Brazil in 2027 resembling the EPU concept. Whether this vehicle will be a Latin American-only product – such as unibody utes like the Ram Rampage and Chevrolet Montana – or be additionally offered in North America and other markets remains unclear. Content originally sourced from: Toyota is reportedly serious about offering a smaller, potentially car-based ute which would slot in under its existing pickups. "We're looking at it," Toyota USA chief operating officer Mark Templin told Bloomberg. "We could really do well in that segment, so we're trying to do it," said Cooper Ericksen, a senior vice president in charge of planning and strategy at Toyota Motor North America, in a separate interview. "It's a matter of timing." It's unclear whether Toyota's more compact ute would have petrol, hybrid or electric power. However, Bloomberg reports Toyota engineers were spied testing the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz – both car-based unibody utes, unlike Toyota's body-on-frame Tacoma and HiLux – near its technical centre in the US state of Michigan last year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. A smaller ute would slot into the company's US lineup under the Tacoma, which replaced the HiLux – known there as the Pickup – back in 1995. The current Tacoma is a newer vehicle than our HiLux, riding on the TNGA-F ladder platform that's shared with models like the Prado and offering a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. By launching rival for the Maverick (pictured above) and Santa Cruz, Toyota could offer US buyers a more affordable ute. While it may not have quite the level of off-road and towing capability as the HiLux or Tacoma, it could offer a more car-like driving experience. The Hyundai Santa Cruz has been a fairly steady if not enormous seller in the US, with 32,033 sales last year, but sales of the Ford Maverick rose 39 per cent to exceed 100,000 annual units for the first time. The final tally was 131,142 units, which pushed it well past the Ford Ranger. Ford sold 46,205 Rangers in the US in 2024, placing it third in its segment and well behind the top-selling Tacoma (pictured above), which posted 192,813 sales. This mooted new Toyota ute would appear to be different to the HiLux Champ launched in Southeast Asia, which is a boxy, ladder-frame, more back-to-basics counterpart to the HiLux that undercuts it on price. Toyota has also confirmed it'll launch an electric ute in Europe by 2026, potentially pointing to a production version of the unibody EPU electric ute concept (above) revealed at the 2023 Tokyo motor show. There have also been reports out of South America that Toyota will launch a car-based, hybrid-powered ute in Brazil in 2027 resembling the EPU concept. Whether this vehicle will be a Latin American-only product – such as unibody utes like the Ram Rampage and Chevrolet Montana – or be additionally offered in North America and other markets remains unclear. Content originally sourced from: Toyota is reportedly serious about offering a smaller, potentially car-based ute which would slot in under its existing pickups. "We're looking at it," Toyota USA chief operating officer Mark Templin told Bloomberg. "We could really do well in that segment, so we're trying to do it," said Cooper Ericksen, a senior vice president in charge of planning and strategy at Toyota Motor North America, in a separate interview. "It's a matter of timing." It's unclear whether Toyota's more compact ute would have petrol, hybrid or electric power. However, Bloomberg reports Toyota engineers were spied testing the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz – both car-based unibody utes, unlike Toyota's body-on-frame Tacoma and HiLux – near its technical centre in the US state of Michigan last year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. A smaller ute would slot into the company's US lineup under the Tacoma, which replaced the HiLux – known there as the Pickup – back in 1995. The current Tacoma is a newer vehicle than our HiLux, riding on the TNGA-F ladder platform that's shared with models like the Prado and offering a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. By launching rival for the Maverick (pictured above) and Santa Cruz, Toyota could offer US buyers a more affordable ute. While it may not have quite the level of off-road and towing capability as the HiLux or Tacoma, it could offer a more car-like driving experience. The Hyundai Santa Cruz has been a fairly steady if not enormous seller in the US, with 32,033 sales last year, but sales of the Ford Maverick rose 39 per cent to exceed 100,000 annual units for the first time. The final tally was 131,142 units, which pushed it well past the Ford Ranger. Ford sold 46,205 Rangers in the US in 2024, placing it third in its segment and well behind the top-selling Tacoma (pictured above), which posted 192,813 sales. This mooted new Toyota ute would appear to be different to the HiLux Champ launched in Southeast Asia, which is a boxy, ladder-frame, more back-to-basics counterpart to the HiLux that undercuts it on price. Toyota has also confirmed it'll launch an electric ute in Europe by 2026, potentially pointing to a production version of the unibody EPU electric ute concept (above) revealed at the 2023 Tokyo motor show. There have also been reports out of South America that Toyota will launch a car-based, hybrid-powered ute in Brazil in 2027 resembling the EPU concept. Whether this vehicle will be a Latin American-only product – such as unibody utes like the Ram Rampage and Chevrolet Montana – or be additionally offered in North America and other markets remains unclear. Content originally sourced from:
