General Motors – **Hyundai is working on its first body-on-frame ute, and the new model will feature familiar underpinnings in it. ** **
GM Authority reports the new Hyundai ute, thus far confirmed only for Latin America where it’s due on sale in 2028, will be based on an updated version of GM’s 31XX-2 platform.
This was introduced in 2022 under the current US-built Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, a heavily overhauled version of the ladder-frame architecture used for the modern Latin American Chevrolet S10 as well as the now defunct Holden Colorado.
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GM is leading the development in Brazil of the platform, which will underpin not only new Hyundai ute but also a replacement for the current Chevrolet S10. And it’s being designed to support both internal combustion and hybrid powertrains.
Aside from a hybrid, the new Hyundai and GM cars appear to be diesel-powered. The Colorado/Canyon duo are currently available in the US-market, and only have a turbocharged 2 at this time. A 7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is a with seven litres of petrol.
According to GM Authority, the platform will also support single-cab body styles and has a rear axle that supports more load capacity – although it is already in the current Colorado/Canyon model with live/leaf-sprung rear wheel setup of this segment; 3490kg braked towing capability.
The new ute will be among the first of five models developed together by Hyundai and GM as part of a partnership the Korean and American automakers established in September 2024. Hyundai’s ute is also expected to feature greater differentiation from its GM cousin, rather than being a straight rebadge.
GMC Canyon
It’s not clear whether we’ll see Hyundai’ GM-based ute in Australia, as the brand remains coy about its first tee for this market.
We know it won’t be the current Tucson-based, US-built Santa Cruz unibody dual-cab, which is understood to be facing the chopping block.
Hyundai has confirmed it’s working on a body-on-frame ute for the US market, which will launch there by 2030.
Teaser for Hyundai’s US ute
It’s unclear just how different this will be from the Latin American-market ute due in 2028.
The US ute is the more likely of the two to visit Australia, as Hyundai Australia has said it’s working with its North American counterpart.
“Strategically, it’s still a work in progress. It’s leaning towards a couple of years from now… and it’s still [being developed] in collaboration with the US,” Hyundai Australia chief operating officer Gavin Donaldson told Australian media in February.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
paraphrasing ‘We are not walking away from a car and want ute, we need. I’m in great consultation with our [with Hyundai Motor Company]… It’s the powertrain that we are trying to get into the country, I think ultimately what it is about [now]]. – ’.
Hyundai has indicated it plans to offer a body-on-frame ute, like sister brand Kia does with its Tasman – though the Hyundai ute won’t be a mere rebadge.
A group of utes appears to be in the pipeline, with trademark filings for the Ioniq T7 and Ionict10 nameplates suggesting there is an electric uter or two among those that are already on the mix.
Kia Tasman
The Ford Ranger led the Australian new-car market in 2025, with the Toyota HiLux sitting in third and the Isuzu D-Max in fourth.
This segment — from 42 to the four4 utes of brands such as BYD and Volkswagen – represented 19 per cent of the total market for all up.
Several brands are also entering the market Chery is coming out with its inaugural Australian ute – complete with a diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain later this year.
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