- Hyundai officially backed a baja-style Santa Fe concept.
- The desert racer was created by digital artist Khyzyl Saleem.
- More custom renders based on Hyundai models will follow.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a family SUV with a boxy design, but what if someone reworked it into a desert monster? Independent digital artist Khyzyl Saleem turned that idea into a rendering, and Hyundai USA didn’t just give it a public thumbs-up, it shared the renders on its own official accounts, which isn’t something you see every day.
The concept runs a heavily modified two-door body with wildly exaggerated proportions that belong on a Baja start line rather than a school run. Almost nothing carries over from the road car. Look closely and the only survivors are the H-shaped headlights and taillights, along with the front windshield
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The Baja-ready Santa Fe sits on massive beadlock wheels wrapped in chunky off-road tires. Those are tucked under wide fender extensions with integrated fins, while the front and rear bumpers have been stripped away 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.
Hyundai USA / Khyzyl Saleem
While Hyundai is not expected to transfer the idea from digital concept to reality, such a build would probably ride on a custom chassis fitted with long-travel heavy-duty suspension components. It would also need a powerful engine under the hood to match the aggressive stance.
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A full transformation would let the Santa Fe swap its three-row family duties for high-speed dune bashing, in the mold of the limited production Ford Bronco DR or the more extreme Ford Raptor T1+ and GR DKR Hilux T1+ Dakar racers.
The automaker posted the renderings on Facebook with the caption: “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?”
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That last line suggests the wild Santa Fe won’t be the final collaboration between Hyundai and the digital artist known as @the_kyza on Instagram. With any luck, Saleem gets a crack at the Lamborghini-style Hyundai Ioniq V next.
