For the first time in months, our spy photographers caught Hyundai’s upcoming crossover, the Portico, testing in an almost undisguised fashion. The Portico will be more along the lines of a tall wagon than true as SUV, and will be taller than the company’s Kia Sorento SUV.
First shown as a 2005 “concept” in Chicago, Hyundai is hoping their Mercedes-Benz R-Class-like crossover will fill all the niches where Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler’s Pacifica failed.
Flexible seating for the Portico means two rows of seating with seating for 4 or 6 – depending if the center seat is folded down or upright. With six passengers in two rows – the Portico will offer more cargo area than similarly sized vehicles.
A 3.3-liter V6 rated at around 240 horsepower or a 3.8-liter V6 rated at about 280 horsepower should provide motivation for the Portico. Hyundai’s new six-speed Shiftronic transmission will route the power to a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive setup. It’s not yet clear if the Portico will see a four-cylinder or hybrid powertrains.
While the Portico was slated to be built in Alabama, production has now shifted to Korea and will start in the third quarter of this year. Expect the Portico to be unveiled soon.
04/28, 12:13 PM
posted by:
gehrhardt
Isn’t that a Venza in the photos?
04/28, 12:52 PM
posted by:
TheQ
Ugh…Please be a fake name. Portico? Terrible….
04/28, 1:04 PM
posted by:
muttonchops
Tall Wagon = Minivan with no sliding doors.
04/28, 1:11 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Looks like a Subaru Tribeca
04/28, 1:12 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Looks like a full sized Kia Rhondo. At least they’re copying themselves for a change.
04/28, 1:28 PM
posted by:
Long Dong Auto
“Tall wagon” aka Mercedes R Class or Chrysler Pacifica. These do not sell regardless of who makes them.
04/28, 1:35 PM
posted by:
orangecones
Front end looks very Forte-esque. The overall profile is very Mazda5 + Pacifica plopped out a baby. If I am reading it right, 6 people in 2 rows, that means a front bench seat? Could be interesting. I don’t see it happening but could be a great small business van, capable of hauling 6 mexicans and a lawn mower.
04/28, 1:36 PM
posted by:
orangecones
@ Long Dong Auto, what about Subaru? Outback and Forester are exactly that, and they sell very well.
04/28, 2:04 PM
posted by:
TomF
Look at those rear-quarter blind spots. I guess it’s called a Portico because its owners will be backing into so many of them.
04/28, 2:51 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
My dad’s Sorento replacement!!!!
Now what do people want in a vehicle?
Versatility/Comfort – Check
Good Looks – Most likely Check
Performance – For it’s class Check
Affordability – Over the Venza Check
Effeciency – Versus the SUVs Check
Tall Ride Height – Check
I mean, it’s really probably going to be the best vehicle choice for the majority of families out there. It’s not a minivan and doesn’t take that look-at-me styling too far. I think it’s a winner.
04/28, 3:28 PM
posted by:
bdizzlefizzle
LDA and orange, you’re not talking about the same thing. LDA is talking about the ‘tall wagon’ space that the Pacifica and R Class are supposed to be in. Truth is, they are both bad vehicle (crappy and ugly+overpriced, respectively), so they fail. Same for the Tribeca – ugly as hell and expensive for a Subie, plus bad MPG. They then redesign it too late (like the Aztek), and make it look like an ‘anycar’ so it has no reason to be bought. Not hard to understand why these three failed.
Look at another tall wagon, and it’s doing fairly well so far – the Venza. Look at smaller tall wagons – Matrix and Vibe – and they’ve done ok (well, not the Vibe, but the Matrix has).
The Outback is a wagon that’s been raised for ground clearance plus a slight bump in the roof, not a tall wagon. The Forester is supposed to be an SUV, and the new one is more of that. The old one was an ugly SUV and a weak conversion from a car on Subie’s part, but still not a ‘tall wagon’ as the class has evolved.
04/28, 4:05 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
it kinda reminds me of the mazda mp5 mixed with the chevy traverse.
04/28, 4:13 PM
posted by:
VR666
First off Bdizzle, the Vibe sold better than the Matrix. I believe the closest car to this on the road right now is the CX-9. It’s great looking for what it is imo but it’s only a decent seller. That may be price. I know they’ve had their share of problems or it could be lack of decent choices in options. Yes the CX-9 is a bit higher but I believe they both appeal to the same shopper. Family based concerned about cargo area and safety while wanting at least decent fuel efficiency.
04/28, 7:23 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
It’s an SUV.
Please stop.
Looks like a Pacific.
This could be another dedicated Hyundai video, that in my radical plan, would help move the brand upscale.
04/28, 7:34 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
This is obviously the reason Hyundai is cancelling the Entourage van for 2010.. like jjt just said, differentiation from Kia with a more upscale people mover. It’s a shame Americans will stay away in droves.
04/28, 11:04 PM
posted by:
Dangerous1
It’s a Station Wagon by any other name.