---
title: "Hyundai Isn’t Ruling Out ‘N’ Pickup Truck to Fight Ford Ranger Raptor: Report"
description: "A pickup masterminded by Hyundai's N division is expected to use a version of the Veloster N's 275-horsepower turbo-four."
date: "2019-09-16"
modified: "2019-09-16"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/29868/hyundai-isnt-ruling-out-n-pickup-truck-to-fight-ford-ranger-raptor-report"
categories:
  - "Hyundai News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Hyundai"
  - "Off-Road"
  - "pickup"
---

# Hyundai Isn’t Ruling Out ‘N’ Pickup Truck to Fight Ford Ranger Raptor: Report

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/09/Large-26091-SantaCruzCrossoverTruckConcept-e1568650688157.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

We already know Hyundai is working on [a midsize pickup truck called the Santa Cruz](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25258/hyundai-pickup-on-its-way-possible-kia-version-to-follow-report>), but a recent interview with Hyundai N boss Albert Biermann leads us to believe that the company isn't ruling out a performance version of the truck—one that could rival [Ford's Baja-inspired Ranger Raptor](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23669/ford-releases-2019-ranger-raptor-specifications-for-europe>).

When Australia's [*carsales*](<https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/hyundai-considering-ford-ranger-raptor-fighter-120525/>) asked Biermann if he had plans on working on an N version of the upcoming truck, he alluded, "You have to be ready for everything from Hyundai and Kia, everything is possible. So there's no limitations." When *The Drive* reached out to Hyundai for comment, a company spokesperson unsurprisingly refused to add anything more to Biermann's statement.

![message-editor%2F1568654372284-2018\_ford\_ranger\_raptor\_wildtrak\_shot22\_34frontclimbdynamic\_04.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1568654372284-2018_ford_ranger_raptor_wildtrak_shot22_34frontclimbdynamic_04.jpg>)
*2019 Ford Ranger Raptor, *Ford Motor Company**

For those out of the loop, the Ford Ranger Raptor takes the popular F-150 Raptor's higher, wider, meaner, more offroad-ready formula and applies it to the Blue Oval's midsize Ranger. Like [seemingly all good things small in size](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29863/behold-the-165-hp-2020-fiat-500-abarth-595-pista-we-wont-be-getting-in-the-us>), it isn't currently scheduled to come to the U.S.

The report goes on to speculate that a potential Hyundai Santa Cruz N could feature long-travel, trophy-truck style suspension, more poke under the hood, and more aggressive styling—in addition to N's signature baby blue trim. It's rumored that it will use a more powerful version of the [Veloster N](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/28844/2019-hyundai-veloster-n-vs-2019-vw-golf-gti-comparison-review-two-hot-hatches-blitz-the-track>)'s 275-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four possibly boosted to make around 300 ponies.

![message-editor%2F1568656018701-large-37304-2020velostern.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1568656018701-large-37304-2020velostern.jpg>)
**Hyundai Motor America**

In the same conversation, the ex-BMW M head told *carsales* that his team is working on a smaller hot hatch very likely based on the overseas-only i20 supermini, as well as a performance SUV which sounds an awful lot like the [previously rumored Tucson N](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26343/hyundai-is-working-on-a-340-hp-tucson-n-suv-report>).

N version or not, Hyundai's upcoming pickup may or may not be [rebadged as a Kia](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27674/is-kia-developing-a-pickup-truck>), too.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)