Hyundai Australia says it's getting a ute - finally. The Hyundai ute options are: One: Hyundai’s Mighty Boy - the Tucson-based Santa Cruz, which is too small and would be outrageously overpriced here.Two: They could attempt to re-badge the Tasman. (This is gunna be their preferred option, surely, because it’s the only available ute in the same segment as Hilux, Ranger, et. al.)Just a few minor hurdles there: They’ll have to take the ‘smashed crab’ aesthetic out of the pointy end, and give Eugene Levy his eyebrows back on the profile ... probably do-able, so far.But they’ll also have to solve the powertrain problem. See, Tasman’s diesel is objectively underpowered, especially in the mid-rev range. This is a fact. Therefore, A) it can’t take the fight effectively to Ranger and Hilux, and B) when Chris Bowen’s efficiency standard really ramps up to proposed 2030 levels, that engine won’t be especially tenable. The other option is the Hyundai Silverado. A twisted freak of the automotive world, certainly, but they might conceivably pimp out Hyundai Australia's new ute to GM, which is currently massaging-up a plug-in hybrid Silverado.This might be possible seeing as Hyundai started sleeping with General Motors in New York on September 12 last year. GM’s Mary Barra and Big Sister’s Euisun Chung consummated the unlikely union after exchanging vows to hook up casually from time to time, because they both love money. Only one small problem with any upcoming Hyunderado. There’s 200-230,000 Ranger-sized utes being sold here currently. But only about 11,000 big, honkin’ redneck specials.And as much as I love me a big, honkin’ redneck special, this far smaller Silverundai segment is not the one to play in if you’re Hyundai, hoping against hope to get Hilux and Ranger worried.If you already had a somewhat cloned hybrid Tasman, and it was going gangbusters, a Hyunderado might be a ripping range-topper to deploy after that.Plus, the Silverado 1500 you can buy today from GMSV is roughly $150,000 with its honkin’ 6.2 V8 and complimentary Moonshine Bandits playlist. Add a plug-in hybrid powertrain … and any future Hyunderado hybrid is gunna be nudging $180k. Which is a lot of hoot for a Hyundai ute.This is far from being a done deal, I'd suggest.
