Khyzyl Saleem took one look at Hyundai’s boxy Santa Fe and decided the three-row people mover needed a completely different life. The result is a widebody two-door prerunner that looks ready to hammer through the Baja 1000 rather than sit in a school pickup line. Hyundai USA liked the idea enough to post the renders on its own channels and ask fans which model should get the same treatment next.
Saleem, also known online as “the_kyza,” broke down the production Santa Fe to its most basic form before rebuilding it to do high-speed desert work. The Santa Fe’s familiar four-door body was reduced to a two-door shell, the majority of which is made up of dramatically flared fenders that extend as far as they can and contain built-in features. They perch on enormous beadlock wheels with incredibly tall and thick off-road tires. The front and rear bumpers have been removed to provide plenty of extra approach and departure angles, allowing the vehicle to climb and drop without becoming stuck. A sculpted hood replaces the standard one, the roof now has auxiliary LED lighting, and out back there are two full-size spares positioned on either side. To keep things looking practical, the rear quarter panels were also chopped with large air channels. The only parts that survived the redesign were the H-shaped headlights, vertical taillights, and the front windshield, allowing Hyundai to retain some of its overall shape.
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The thing appears to have a significantly increased ride height, which would necessitate some very long travel suspension if it were ever manufactured. An integrated roof storage system and a modest rear spoiler provide practicality to the design without overwhelming it. But the overall proportions of the thing feel right on point, with a raw, exaggerated look that’s similar to limited-run off-road monsters like the Ford Bronco DR or the insane Raptor T1+ that you get from time to time, but none of which you’d ever expect to see wearing a Hyundai badge.
The entire project began in the comments section of Hyundai’s social media pages, where they encouraged followers to share ideas for how to improve the Santa Fe. Saleem contributed the idea for the Santa Fe Baja, and when it was completed, Hyundai posted the finished renders with a simple comment that conveyed the point: “the internet can come up with some of the most awesome build concepts out there.” and left it at that. They even extended an open invitation for the next model to endure the same treatment, as if they wanted to know who would be next.
As of right now, it’s evident that Hyundai is serious about producing some off-road-capable vehicles, such as the bizarre Boulder concept they unveiled earlier this year. What’s even more intriguing is that Salesem has previously worked with Hyundai on bodywork and builds. He designed bodies for the TWR Supercat and made liveries for Travis Pastrana’s extreme builds, so it’s hardly surprising that his concepts are being adopted. Plus, this collaboration feels much more like a growing relationship between the designer and the brand than a one-time publicity stunt because a number of his internet ideas have really made it to the real world.
