Hyundai Endorses Wild Baja Santa Fe Concept, But Won't Build It

Hyundai USA has officially backed a digital Baja-style Santa Fe concept, but the automaker has no plans to produce it. The desert racer design was created by independent digital artist Khyzyl Saleem, and Hyundai shared the renders on its own official accounts, a rare move for the company.

The concept features a heavily modified two-door body with exaggerated proportions suited for off-road racing. Nearly every element of the road-going SUV is changed, leaving only the H-shaped headlights, taillights, and front windshield intact. The render includes massive beadlock wheels, chunky off-road tires, wide fender extensions with fins, and stripped bumpers for better approach and departure angles.

Additional details include a sculpted hood, roof-mounted auxiliary LEDs, dual spare tires, and air channels in the rear quarter panels.

While no production is expected, a real build would likely require a custom chassis with long-travel suspension and a powerful engine. Hyundai posted the renders on Facebook with a caption praising Saleem's work and asking which Hyundai model should be modded next, suggesting more collaborations are coming.

The artist, known as @the_kyza on Instagram, may next tackle a Lamborghini-style Hyundai Ioniq V.