Hyundai hopes high for ‘Grandmaster’ SUV

BY TERRY MARTIN | 22nd Jun 2018


HYUNDAI Motor Co Australia (HMCA) chief executive JW Lee has revealed there is strong potential for an all-new full-size SUV previewed by the recently revealed HDC-2 Grandmaster concept to be sold in Australia, sitting above the Santa Fe as a flagship model for the South Korean brand. 
 
GoAuto understands that development of the upper-large three-row SUV is well underway and that the vehicle will be aimed primarily at the US market, leaving a question mark at this stage over right-hand-drive production.
 
But when asked this week whether he thought there was a strong chance a production version of the Grandmaster would come to Australia, Mr Lee said: “Yes, I think so. Yes, absolutely.” 
 
The big new wagon is expected to share platform and key mechanical components with the forthcoming confirmed production version of Kia’s Telluride concept.
 
The Telluride-based SUV will be shown in road-going form later this year and is expected to be built using a ladder-frame chassis – underpinnings that point to genuine off-road ability and, crucially for Australian interests, the basis for a long-awaited one-tonne pick-up.
 
Mr Lee said he was confident Hyundai would do well in Australia with a full-size SUV that would be positioned above the new fourth-generation TM-series Santa Fe that reaches showrooms early next month.
 
 “I have always wanted to include a bigger SUV in Australia,” he said. 
 
“As you said, there is the (Toyota) Kluger, Prado – size-wise they are bigger than this current TM (Santa Fe), even though the new TM is bigger than the earlier DM. And this bigger-size SUV market has quite strong demand, I think, in Australia.
 
“Not only in Australia but also in some other markets too, especially the Middle East and also the United States. They also need a bigger-size SUV.”
 
Mr Lee said he was unable to confirm whether the Grandmaster-based vehicle would use a more rugged body-on-frame chassis – last seen with the 2001-2007 mid-size Terracan that borrowed its ladder-frame chassis from the second-generation Mitsubishi Pajero – or a monocoque design as seen with Santa Fe. 
 
“I hope that it would be similar to a more rugged one, something that is more of a so-called ‘authentic’ SUV model,” he said.
 
“Currently, in our line-up there is no frame-based SUV. Earlier, we had the Terracan, and that was our last one, and personally I hope, I want, to see some real rugged and strong frame-type model.”
 
HMCA marketing director Oliver Mann was also enthusiastic about the prospect of a larger SUV joining the local stable.
 
“We’d love to see a big Hyundai four-wheel drive,” he said. “There are certainly still some gaps in the range where we think there’s a great opportunity for Hyundai to expand.
 
“Pick-ups is the obvious one, but large four-wheel-drive frame-based vehicle is the other, no question.”
 
As for the potential of a much-needed ute coming off the same platform, Mr Lee said: “I don’t have the exact figures or information about that, but that is my personal anticipation and personal hope to see a frame-based SUV as well as a frame-based ute. 
 
“I desperately want this!”
 
Mr Lee said Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea was “seriously working on” the utility program.
 
“If everything goes well, maybe by 2022, I hope we will see ute vehicles in this market,” he said.
 
“Nothing is concrete, nothing is finalised, but I’m really looking forward to seeing this car in this market.”

Read more

Pick-up may join Kia Telluride SUV by 2021
Hyundai previews huge SUV
Detroit show: Green light for Kia’s full-size SUV
Detroit show: Kia uncovers Telluride
Full Site
Back to Top

Main site

Researching

GoAutoMedia