In December, Hyundai’s Chief Design Officer, Luc Donckerwolke, stated that the Santa Cruz, which debutedat the North American International Auto Show in Detroit four years ago, had been “signed off” and would enter production as quickly as possible.

Speaking to US publication Motor Trend however, Hyundai’s Global Design Centre Head in Namyang, South Korea, SangYup Lee, said the Santa Cruz would not only be “striking” and “different”, but also a “lot more distinctive" and with “more character” than the concept, as it attempts to avoid the so-called Russian Doll effect of all models appearing similar.

Describing the looks further as “progressive”, Lee remained coy on revealing any other details, only stating that the Santa Cruz will be based on the same platform as the Tucson. With the United States being viewed as the key market, the Santa Cruz could therefore come powered by the same range of engines, which consists out of a normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol, a bigger 2.4-litre mill and possibly even the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and 2.2-litre CRDI turbodiesel from the Santa Fe.

Given its underpinnings, and despite Hyundai benchmarking the Honda Ridgeline as an intended rival, it now seems unlikely that the Santa Cruz will be offered with a big displacement V6 petrol engine like the 3.8-litre motor from the Palisade and Kia Telluride, or even the 3.3-litre twin-turbo that powers certain Genesis models as well as the Kia Stinger as initially reported.

At present, the Santa Cruz is due to make its world reveal next year with a Kia derivative following soon after.