New Model News

Hyundai confirms Santa Cruz name for new truck, U.S. production location

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Nov 13, 2019, 8:34 pm

Hyundai has confirmed that a production version of this Santa Cruz prototype will go intro production soon.

Photo courtesy of Hyundai

The Hyundai Santa Cruz truck will go into production in 2021 at the automaker's Montgomery, Alabama plant, joining the Hyundai Santa Fe, Sonata, and Elantra on the assembly line.

The existence of plans to create a truck for the U.S. market was first show at the 2015 North American International Auto Show when the Santa Cruz concept was revealed.

But, is the Santa Cruz really going to be a truck? In a press release Hyundai called the model a "compact utility vehicle" for people that "need the day-to-day versatility of an open bed." Hyundai says that the vehicle "creates a whole new segment" but it sounds a lot like the description that could be used to refer to the Subaru Baja.

2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz back 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Hyundai's description of the truck has it sounding a lot like a Subaru Baja.Photo courtesy of Hyundai

This description fits with what information Hyundai engineers have let slip out over the years saying that they were working on a truck that would be more for coastal Californians who need something to throw a surf board in the back of rather than farmers in the midwest looking for a truck to haul hay around in.

To accommodate the new vehicle production, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) will get a $410 million expansion that includes additional space in the stamping, welding and parts processing areas of the complex.

"Bringing the Santa Cruz to HMMA demonstrates that Hyundai Motor Company is confident our more than 3,000 Team Members are ready to build a quality crossover for the U.S. market," said Byungjin Jin, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

HMMA will add 200 jobs and local suppliers are projected to add an additional 1,000 jobs to support the plant expansion and Santa Cruz production.

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New Ferrari design ensures 1950s Rome meets 2019's Roma

In crafting the new Roma coupe, Ferrari took design notes from its heritage.

Photo courtesy of Ferrari

Three weeks ago, the Ferrari Roma celebrated its world premiere. In the days since, the Italian automaker is saying all the right things about the Roma to get enthusiasts' hearts pumping, billing the mid-front-engined 2+ coupe as having, "refined proportions and timeless design combined with unparalleled performance and handling."

As Ferrari looks forward with this new design, the automaker is looking back to 1950s and 60s Rome. In an era defined by the intersection of modern amenities but with a foot strongly in tradition, mid-1900s Italy was rising from the conflict of World War II and heading toward the economic boom that would mark the 80s. Life in the 50s and 60s, for the average Roman, was filled with the joy of taking pleasure in everyday experiences.

Roman Holiday Audrey Hepburn Gregory Peck Belgian-born actor Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) holds the hand of American actor Gregory Peck in a still from the film 'Roman Holiday,' directed by William Wyler, 1953. Photo by Getty Images

In the 50s and 60s, Ferrari was projecting the evolving Italian lifestyle into its designs. The company's V12 grand tourers gained prominence including the luxurious Ferrari America. The Ferrari 250 added a touch of refinement in the sports car segment with a thoroughly modern body style, slimming the design lines that the company featured in its 1950 166 Inter a few years prior.

Under the Roma's hood is 611-horsepower turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 that is specifically tuned for the new model and gets 561 pound-feet of torque. Its body is lightweight and offers generous curves to look at, similar to what famous Roman Sophia Loren did for cinema goers in the 1950s and 60s. The engine is paired with Ferrari's eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

2019 Ferrari Roma 2020 The rear of the touring car has a thoroughly modern design.Photo courtesy of Ferrari

Ferrari has filled the Roma with the latest technology the automaker offers including a large driver information screen, vertically-orientated centrally-located infotainment screen, and a screen in front of the passenger that gives them access to audio controls along other functionality.

The car also features a number of selectable drive modes.

2019 Ferrari Roma 2020 Three screens dominate the interior of the Roma.Photo courtesy of Ferrari

The debut model was fitted with 20-inch dual-five spoke wheels.

Experts estimate that the Ferrari Roma will cost upwards of $220,000 when it goes on sale next year.

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These are the limited edition Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign models you've been waiting to see

A limited number of these high-end GT-R models will be for sale in 2020.

Photo courtesy of Italdesign

The Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign customer model won't be displayed in public at an auto show until March but Nissan is giving enthusiasts a look at the prototype at, 2019 NISMO Festival, Nissan Crossing in Tokyo's Ginza district in December, and at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. Ahead of those events, the Japanese automaker has released new photography of the sports car.

"Designers dream of creating from a blank canvas, but with GT-R, it is a canvas that has been shaped by an adventurous history, a heart powered by NISMO, and a soul reflecting 50 years of dreams of engineers, designers, artisans, developers, racers and leaders," said Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president of global design at Nissan. "The best of Japan and Italy combined with help from our California and London studios are painting on the best canvas any designer can possibly have!"

Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign

Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign black

Photo courtesy of Nissan

Nissan is currently accepting orders for the limited edition model.

Nissan collaborated with Turin, Italy-based Italdesign to create the model, which is based on the latest Nissan GT-R NISMO. Each of the GT-R50 by Italdesign models has a NISMO-tuned, hand-built, 720-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6.

Nissan reports that customer demand for the production version of the car has been strong, with a number of deposits already taken across the globe. Just 50 reservations will be taken.

In Japan, customers can now purchase a GT-R50 by Italdesign through SCI Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of VT Holdings, which has been appointed official importer and distributor for these exclusive cars in the country.

Those interested in the GT-R50 by Italdesign can visit www.GT-R50.nissan or contact Italdesign directly at aporta.gtr50@italdesign.com.

For inquiries in Japan, contact justin.gtr50@vt-holdings.co.jp.

Deliveries of the car begin in late 2020. Subject to certification and homologation, customers can expect to get behind the wheel of their personalized Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign sometime between late 2020 and the end of 2021.

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