The modified Santa Cruz will take part in this year's Rebelle Rally.
In April this year, Hyundai announced it would take part in the all-female Rebelle Rally for the first time.
The rally is America's longest off-road rally, and the brand has chosen to send its rugged Hyundai Santa Cruz truck out into the desert. The Hyundai/Kia brand will be there in force, too, with a Kia Sportage X-Pro entering the X-Cross class. That class is fielded by smaller trucks and crossovers, like VW's all-electric entry, which is also partaking.
In April, we didn't even know what the truck would look like, much less what the team would take with it into the desert. Now, we're getting our first look at both.
The livery was done by Hyundai designer Brad Arnold, who also penned the Santa Cruz itself, and Matt Marble, a senior graphic designer. The idea was to blend the "California surfing lifestyle" with a "custom bandana motif" to create what Hyundai calls an "off-road ready" look.
As with any good motorsports livery, plenty of sponsors are acknowledged on the side of the car. Those include Bose, Falken, Rally Innovations, Gear Offroad Wheels, Truxxx, and She Buys Travel.
Some of those hint at the kit drivers Kristen Shaw and Jill Ciminillo, both fellow autos writers, will be taking with them into the desert.
Of the cars we've got a look at thus far, this Santa Cruz appears to be the most well-prepped. It benefits from new off-road tires, wheels, and skid plates. A lift kit was also fitted for better ground clearance. Sitting above the tonneau cover is a new bed rack that hosts some recovery gear.
That includes a set of recovery boards, a spare, and a pair of shovels. Hyundai has also fitted a new roof rack for more carrying capacity. Sat just in front of that is the first of two light bars. You'll find the second sitting on the nose of the Santa Cruz.
Inside, the truck is essentially stock. As far as we know, Hyundai has left the interior alone, save for a fire extinguisher. No team on the rally will be able to use a phone, as progression throughout the rally is based on your navigational skills and maps. A GPS marker is used to mark checkpoints, but how teams get there is up to them.
On top of that, checkpoints are hidden until you're right on top. This isn't a contest of speed but one of navigational talent and survival. The rally runs from October 6-15.
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