What's this about?

The first major motor show of the year, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, has opened its doors and Hyundai has revealed its Santa Cruz Concept and the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid. Concept cars usually fall into one of two categories: flights of fancy that will never see production and thinly disguised new models; the Santa Cruz is closer to the latter. It is a pick-up truck aimed at trendy urban types. In the USA...

What's so special about it?

It might not look it in the photos but the Santa Cruz is designed to be compact; about the same size as a crossover rather than a full-size 'truck' in American parlance. To get around the limited carrying capacity Hyundai has designed an extending tailgate that increases the load bed length when needed. It also gets a rigid, retracting tonneau cover for the load bay to keep items secure and hidden. Inside there is space for five people and under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre, 190hp turbodiesel engine.

Hyundai says the Santa Cruz is aimed at people under 30, who currently buy just seven per cent of all pick-ups sold in the US. Existing offerings don't meet the needs of these people and something compact, efficient and manoeuvrable is needed to attract the custom of so-called 'urban adventurers'.

What about the Sonata?

We don't get the Sonata in the UK but in some markets it is already available with hybrid power. The plug-in version gets a larger battery pack and more powerful electric motor. In pure electric mode it has a maximum range of 22 miles and charging the lithium polymer battery takes five hours from a typical American domestic supply. Combined power output of the 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor is 202hp. Certain markets will get the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid later this year, but not ours.