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Thursday, January 15, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - W heels - theifp.ca Page 1 82 Main St. N. Georgetown 905-873-6127 Honest, Reliable Service Since 1989 To book a date www.bratinauto.com Free Local Shuttle Service OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE SPECIAL $4995* 011515 011515 *Most Vehicles SAVE YOUR VEHICLE 30 point vehicle inspection with every oil change Expiry February 27, 2015 Bratin Auto FREE Thursday, January 15, 2015 Special pullout section 8 Hyundai impresses at Detroit auto show DETROIT: While Kia was quiet with no new offerings at the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, its Korean part- ner Hyundai made up for it with the introduction of two new produc- tion cars and an innovative concept vehicle. Hyundai introduced an all-new Sonata Hybrid model as well as a Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, the firm's first plug-in hybrid. These 2016 models will be introduced in Can- ada later this year. One of the surprises of the show, however, was the Santa Cruz Cross- over Truck Concept, that may or may not see production at some point in the future. If I was a betting man, I would say yes, but Hyundai uses shows like Detroit to gauge consumer reaction to new concepts and the Santa Cruz is another example of that. Somewhat similar to Ford's larg- er Explorer Sport Trac, the Santa Cruz is what Hyundai calls a "new interpretation of truck utility for the Millennials generation who now represent the second largest popu- lation of truck buyers." Designed for what Hyundai calls " urban adventurers", the Santa Cruz offers seating for five along with the By LORNE DRURY Metroland Media Whether this vehicle actually makes it to production remains to be seen, however Hyundai said it did extensive market research to find out what Millennials were looking for in an urban vehicle before launching into the Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept. versatility of a truck bed in the rear, which can be covered by a lockable rigid tonneau cover. The cargo bed provides a separated stor- age area for things like dirty and smelly sports equipment and the like. The back seat is accessed through rear- hinged rear doors that blend in seamlessly with the front door design. Power for an all-wheel drive system comes from a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, producing 190 hp and 300 lb/ft of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 7.8 L/100 km. The Santa Cruz features a nifty tailgate ex- tension to increase the cargo bed to the equiva- lent of a mid-size pickup. However, the truck wasn't designed with heavy hauling or towing in mind; the bed is there to offer greater utility for crossover and sedan buyers who want the utility without going to a full-fledged pickup. The smallish footprint of the Santa Cruz compared with regular pickup trucks means it is easily manoeuvred in tight urban parking lots and narrow city streets. To this end, unique wheels as well as differ- ent front and rear fascias that help to improve aerodynamics are found on the new Sonata Hybrid. Both vehicles will be built at the Asan South Korea plant. Continued on page 3