Hyundai Teases Flagship SUV ‘Palisade’ Ahead Of Debut

Hyundai Motor Company won’t be taking the wraps off its 2020 flagship SUV until later this month, but the South Korean automaker has decided to already announce the name of the upcoming vehicle.

Hyundai disclosed in a statement to news outlets Friday that its next flagship SUV will be named “Palisade.” The moniker is said to be inspired by the Pacific Palisades, which is an opulent neighborhood in South California.

According to Yonhap, Hyundai may have decided to base the name of the sports utility vehicle on a place in the United States because the country is the most important automobile market to the company.

The Hyundai Palisade is expected to come with three rows of seats. The eight-passenger configuration is said to be spacious, while the cargo space would most likely have ample room to accommodate large items. The interior is also anticipated to be made of high-end materials.

Hyundai is debuting the Palisade at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month, specifically on Nov. 28. After which, the flagship SUV is going to launch in the automaker’s home country, South Korea, next month. It is then coming to the U.S. market in the summer of 2019.

The Hyundai Palisade is going to replace the Hyundai Veracruz, the model that’s been out of production in South Korea since 2015. Unlike the Palisade, the Veracruz got its name from a state in Mexico.

It is important to note that the Veracruz was discontinued in the U.S. market way ahead of South Korea. The model ended stateside production in November 2012 after failing to gain much acceptance in the U.S., according to Autoblog.

Former Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik said at the time that the seven-seater 2013 Santa Fe was going to be the replacement model for the Veracruz.

“It’s hard to establish a new brand name. It can take $50 to $100 million dollars. Santa Fe is a golden nameplate for us, it’s a great product, and now it will be much more efficient in my marketing spend,” Krafcik said back then.