[Colin]

Hyundai America Product boss Mike O'Brien says that the Santa Cruz is a definite potential candidate for a diesel engine when it hits production. And that is just one part of a larger push by Hyundai to bring diesel engines to America.

“The diesel is the most promising because of the fuel economy it delivers,” O’Brien said. “It best matches in our research what these customers are looking for,” namely, fuel economy, torque and driveability.

With CAFE requirements mandating high fuel efficiency, automakers will likely be feeling more pressure to make use of diesel engines. Car makers will have to build more fuel efficient cars and also convince customers to forego larger pickup trucks for smaller car-sized vehicles. The Santa Cruz tries to appeal to the truck buyer, while also being more of a car when it comes to fuel consumption.

O’Brien outlined how these regulations depend on two factors, the first being advancements in fuel economy technology by automakers and the second being a switch by consumers from truck category vehicles to car category vehicles. “We’re doing out part,” he said, but when it comes to the consumers, “the opposite is happening.”

To combat that Hyundai is looking at ways to convince consumers into products that meet those regulations. And that answer might just be a compact pickup truck called the Santa Cruz.

Hyundai Exploring Diesels for US Market » AutoGuide.com News

 

[TxHotrod]

Is your first sentence quoted verbatim when Mike O'Brien say "when" and not "if" the SC hits production??

Diesels do save gas, but diesel gas cost more. I wish something would be done to lower the price of diesel fuel. If that would happen I'm sure they would sell a lot more.

 

[BahamaTodd]

If the diesel is offered, even though the efficiency is nice to have, I am more interested in the performance benefits. I owned a 2006 Jetta TDI for a while and even though it only had 100hp and 160tq, that torque was available right off the line and it was still very enjoyable to drive in the city. With 300tq, and being lightweight, a diesel SC should be a blast to drive in town.

 

[TxHotrod]

It would be interesting to see if they would ever offer a sporty version with the 2.0T in it.

 

[Colin]

With a small semi-pickup like the Santa Cruz I think that extra torque could be greatly appreciated. It would allow the Santa Cruz to perhaps do some towing and haul a bit more. Gas prices are down which could make diesels a bit less desirable, but those prices fluctuate so I think that price difference is only going to be a factor for a couple of years.

 

[Santana]

With a small semi-pickup like the Santa Cruz I think that extra torque could be greatly appreciated. It would allow the Santa Cruz to perhaps do some towing and haul a bit more. Gas prices are down which could make diesels a bit less desirable, but those prices fluctuate so I think that price difference is only going to be a factor for a couple of years.

I think you're confusing this with a type of truck it's not supposed to be.
If any towing is to be done with this it's a level of towing that can be accomplished with even just an entry level gasoline power train. Your attempt at justification for a diesel engine is irrelevant here.

 

[BahamaTodd]

True. The SC is much too small to do any significant towing. With such a short wheelbase you wouldn't want to tow more than 2000 lbs.

 

[TimmyB]

I, also, hope they bring it with engine choices. There are just too many people (especially in the USA) who are scared to death of that word, despite how great they are, now. Not sure which engine I would want, but I have absolutely no problem with the power of the 2.4 that I have in my Sonata and Tucson, currently.

 

[BahamaTodd]

I would prefer to see the choices from the Kia Sportage (2.4 and 2.0 turbo) along with the diesel.

 

[TimmyB]

I would prefer to see the choices from the Kia Sportage (2.4 and 2.0 turbo) along with the diesel.

Same engines as Hyundai, if I'm not mistaken. (?)

 

[BahamaTodd]

Same engines as Hyundai, if I'm not mistaken. (?)

Same as the Santa Fe Sport. However the SC is based on the Tucson which comes with a 2.0 or 2.4 - both normally aspirated.

 

[TimmyB]

Same as the Santa Fe Sport. However the SC is based on the Tucson which comes with a 2.0 or 2.4 - both normally aspirated.

OK, I see what you are getting at, now. I was thinking of the Sonata engines. I know when I bought my 13 Sonata, after testing out the 2.4, I wanted NOTHING to do with the extra power of the 2.0T!!! I like my driving record just fine the way it is, thank you.

 

[Santana]

True. The SC is much too small to do any significant towing. With such a short wheelbase you wouldn't want to tow more than 2000 lbs.

Exactly, and that's the capacity that the Tuscon has and I believe the SC is likely to run on the same platform, but I could be wrong about that.

 

[ChuckAStone]

Diesel is the way forward if Hyundai is not just trying to enter the truck market but make a statement as well!

 

[Santana]

Diesel is the way forward if Hyundai is not just trying to enter the truck market but make a statement as well!

Leveraging it would be a good thing, but they should also have a gasoline engine option, BUT with a truck like this... I have a feeling it will just be one engine.

 

[TimmyB]

Leveraging it would be a good thing, but they should also have a gasoline engine option, BUT with a truck like this... I have a feeling it will just be one engine.

I hope that's not true. That would give so many Americans a reason to not even consider this vehicle. (And, yes, I know how good diesels are, nowadays; the average American driver, sadly, does not.)

 

[BahamaTodd]

If it comes to the US a more likely scenario is gas only with a chance that they include the diesel.

Hyundai will be revealing the US spec Tucson at the NY auto show next month, so if there are any plans for the SC on this current platform we'll see if they decide to offer the diesel.

 

[ChuckAStone]

Leveraging it would be a good thing, but they should also have a gasoline engine option, BUT with a truck like this... I have a feeling it will just be one engine.

Why do you think the SantaCruz will only be offered with one engine? I do have a feeling as well that the debut will only be a petrol engine available and if sales are good maybe the future models will have engine options between diesel and petrol.

 

[Colin]

I think that the SC will come with just a petrol engine. I think that since it is going to be aimed more at urban customers a petrol engine makes more sense. I don't see very many city focused cars getting diesel engines. Seems diesel is more for trucks and the like.

 

[BahamaTodd]

I think that the SC will come with just a petrol engine. I think that since it is going to be aimed more at urban customers a petrol engine makes more sense. I don't see very many city focused cars getting diesel engines. Seems diesel is more for trucks and the like.

IMO diesel is much better suited for use in the city. Good low end torque for low speed power and acceleration. Its also more fuel efficient overall. For being such a small truck, it will need to put up big mpg numbers to meet federal light truck mpg regulations which are based on the area footprint of the vehicle.