Hyundai’s New Pickup Aims Squarely at Tacoma and Ranger
The brand’s first body-on-frame truck will launch with hybrid power and US production shifts.By Natalie NeffPublished: Sep 18, 2025 3:02 PM EDT
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Hyundai has confirmed it’s building a body-on-frame mid-size pickup for the US market, a move that signals the Korean automaker’s most serious challenge yet to the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevy Colorado.
The announcement, paired with news of tariff-driven production changes, shows Hyundai recalibrating its US strategy in one of the most competitive segments of the auto industry.
The pickup, expected before the end of the decade, will be the brand’s first traditional truck. Unlike the Santa Cruz, which rides on a unibody platform and leans toward lifestyle buyers, Hyundai says the new model will deliver the durability and towing capacity US truck buyers expect.
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Hyundai has also hinted at an SUV variant spun off the same architecture, widening its footprint in off-road-ready, family-friendly vehicles.
One of the biggest revelations is what will power it. Instead of going all-in on a battery-electric drivetrain, Hyundai will start with a hybrid option, likely borrowing the 329-hp setup from the Palisade Hybrid.
Beyond the mid-size pickup, Hyundai’s announcement also hinted at a wider slate of products under development for the US market. The company confirmed it is preparing to build up to five new or redesigned models in North America within the next several years, spanning crossovers, SUVs, and electrified offerings. This includes next-generation versions of its Tucson and Santa Fe, along with additional hybrid and plug-in hybrid models designed to give buyers more choice as the industry transitions toward electrification.Hyundai
Hyundai Santa Fe.
Hyundai’s move comes as tariffs reshape the auto landscape. With the US imposing steep duties on imported vehicles and components, Hyundai is shifting more production and sourcing to North America to stay price-competitive.
For consumers, that means shorter supply chains, greater availability, and, potentially, more competitive pricing across Hyundai’s lineup. This approach mirrors what rivals such as Toyota and Honda have done for years.
Taken together, Hyundai appears to be using the pickup launch as the centerpiece of a much larger expansion plan aimed squarely at mainstream American garages.
The questions now turn to timing and execution, as in how soon will the truck arrive, and at what price point. The biggest question remains, will Hyundai be able to win over buyers loyal to Tacoma and Ranger? That’ll prove a massive challenge, if nothing else.
But for a couple of sketchy, short-lived gigs right out of college, Natalie Neff has had the good fortune to spend the entirety of her professional life around cars. A 2017 Honda Ridgeline, 1972 VW Beetle, 1999 Ducati Monster and a well-loved purple-and-white five-speed Schwinn currently call her garage home.
Bentley’s Flying Spur Shows Off a $68,000 Paint Job
The new “Ombré by Mulliner” finish takes 60 hours of handcrafting to blend two colors into one seamless fade.By Natalie NeffPublished: Sep 18, 2025 2:34 PM EDTSave Article
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For those looking for the fanciest of fancy rides, Bentley has the car for you.
At this weekend’s Southampton International Boat Show, the British marque unveiled the first sedan to feature its Ombré by Mulliner paintjob—a Flying Spur dressed in a shimmering fade from Topaz Blue at the nose to Windsor Blue at the tail.
The technique was first shown on a Continental GT during Monterey Car Week. Executed entirely by hand at Bentley’s “Dream Factory” in Crewe, Bentley says the process requires nearly 60 hours of work by two skilled paint artisans. The colors are sprayed front and rear before the transition is painstakingly feathered across the doors, roof, and sills.
Because each paint behaves differently, the final effect is never exactly the same twice—each Ombré Bentley is unique, though Mulliner promises a seamless look to the eye.
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Bentley currently offers two other curated colorways, in addition to the above: Sunburst Gold to Orange Flame, and Tungsten to Onyx. More pairings are expected in the future, but don’t expect to order something wild like yellow-to-blue; Mulliner avoids combinations that could accidentally create an unintended third color during the fade.
As expected, the exclusivity comes at a price. Ombré by Mulliner costs £48,000, or about $68,000, making it one of the most expensive factory paint options around.
But for Bentley, the finish is as much about craftsmanship as color, underscoring the brand’s positioning between old-world handcraft and new-world customization, just as it pushes toward an all-electric lineup by 2035 under its Beyond100+ strategy.
But for a couple of sketchy, short-lived gigs right out of college, Natalie Neff has had the good fortune to spend the entirety of her professional life around cars. A 2017 Honda Ridgeline, 1972 VW Beetle, 1999 Ducati Monster and a well-loved purple-and-white five-speed Schwinn currently call her garage home.
