Hyundai’s H350 Van, which rivals the Renault Master, Volkswagen Crafter, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Fiat Ducato and Ford Transit Cargo, will be arriving in New Zealand in 2017.
The head of the local importer Hyundai Motors New Zealand Andy Sinclair confirmed to Automedia Group this morning that the H350 would appear in 2017: “but we don’t know exactly when.”
Sinclair says Hyundai Motor Company in Korea hasn’t yet established where and which factory will produce the right-hand-drive H350 for Australia, New Zealand and other export markets, but it has confirmed production will go ahead.
Revealed in 2014 by Hyundai for the European market, it is so far only producing the H350 in left-hand-drive.
Hyundai’s Turkish partner Karsan Otomotiv is producing three models of the H350, a minibus, van and light truck.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HCMA) senior product planning manager Andrew Tuitahi told Australian media at the recent Elantra launch that the manufacturer is primarily designing and building the H350 for European markets.
The H350 employs a 2.5-litre four cylinder turbo diesel engine which is available in two states of tuning. The lower output version produces 110kW of power and 373Nm of torque while the top-end diesel has 125kW and 422Nm. It is rear wheel driven through a six-speed manual gearbox.
It sits in the 3.5-tonne (gross vehicle weight) van category and can be had with two or three front seats while a 4-tonne passenger bus will also be available with either 14 or 15 seats.
The cargo area measures 3780 millimetres long, 1795mm wide and 1955mm tall (or 12.9 cubic metres), which Hyundai claims is enough to swallow five standard European pallets.
There are 14 tie-down points in the load bay and the H350 is fitted with a standard steel bulkhead to keep the driver and front passengers insulated from noise and/or loose items.
Tuitahi confirmed to GoAuto.Com.Au that HMCA has given the H350 consideration for consumption down under.
“We have looked at it, we have run the numbers, we have had some feedback passed through to head office to let them know what the business case is here,” says Tuitahi.
“From our point of view, there would be some changes that we would need to make regarding powertrains and transmissions to maximise that opportunity,” he says.
Sinclair concurs with his Australian colleague.
“It has to suit the local market; there is always some preference around the specifications and drive trains to maximise the opportunity for greater sales,” he says.
