Hyundai/Kia Spike FWD V6 Pickup
Automotive News [sub] reports that Hyundai/Kia have scrapped plans to build a mid-sized unibody pickup truck at their new plant in West Point, GA. Sources from Hyundai (PR department?) say the truck (thought to be inspired by Honda's not successful but we build it on the same production line as the Odyssey and Pilot so who really cares Ridgeline) would have been built on the updated 2010 Kia Sorento chassis, which is set to switch to unibody design. Instead, the Georgia plant will build a Kia small car, likely the Optima. Executives say a Hyundai-branded car may be built there as well, "if the platform is compatible." As consumers turn away from large body-on-frame trucks, you might have expected a yen for lighter, unibody trucks (just as VW's Rabbit-based pickup sold well during the 1970's fuel crisis). And you might be right. But Hyundai/Kia's not about to make that gamble. Not with so much riding on the (larger and heavier than typical for Hyundai) Genesis RWD vehicles.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Surprisingly no mention of the G8 ST, a muscle car that can also do most of what a truck can do. Perhaps GM should be releasing a V6 model of that car afterall. Except as TTAC's review points out you might as well have had the V8.
I'll buy that "truck" when hell freezes over and the Devil learns to skate.
If they called the G8 ST an El Camino then at least the market would have a glimmer of a chance of knowing what the )&*)(& it is. G8 ST, what idiot came up with that name! I'm still shocked and awed that Pontiac went for that stupid G_ naming scheme. Argh.
Am wondering what a FWD truck would be like with a maxed out cargo bed (weight-wise). Would it be like a standard pickup (no steering, no stopping) except no motive-traction either? Just curious. I have an FWD/AWD CR-V and with a full load the only way I climb some gravel roads with 5 people on board or pulling our utility trailer is with AWD engaged. Whatever the case I'm glad if actual small trucks return to the American fleet. Not all of us need F-250s to haul home a couple sheets of plywood.