Hyundai has officially backed a Baja-style Santa Fe concept created by digital artist Khyzyl Saleem.
The automaker shared the renders on its own official accounts, a rare move for a company.
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The concept transforms the boxy family SUV into a desert racer with a heavily modified two-door body and exaggerated proportions.
Almost nothing carries over from the road car, except the H-shaped headlights and taillights, and the front windshield.
A Radical Transformation
The Baja-ready Santa Fe sits on massive beadlock wheels wrapped in chunky off-road tires.
Wide fender extensions with integrated fins cover the wheels, while the front and rear bumpers have been removed for better approach and departure angles.
Other modifications include a sculpted hood, auxiliary LEDs on the roof, dual spare tires at the back, and sizeable air channels carved into the rear quarter panels.
While Hyundai is not expected to put the concept into production, such a build would likely require a custom chassis with long-travel heavy-duty suspension and a powerful engine.
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A full transformation would let the Santa Fe swap its three-row family duties for high-speed dune bashing, similar to the limited production Ford Bronco DR or the more extreme Ford Raptor T1+ and GR DKR Hilux T1+ Dakar racers.
Hyundai posted the renderings on Facebook with a caption that reads: “The comments made suggestions. Khyzyl Saleem had an answer.
Khyzyl Saleem delivered an insane Hyundai SANTA FE build that proves that the internet has some of the best build ideas.
Which Hyundai should get modded next?”
That last line suggests the wild Santa Fe won't be the final collaboration between Hyundai and Saleem, known as @the_kyza on Instagram.
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With any luck, Saleem gets a crack at the Lamborghini-style Hyundai Ioniq V next.
