The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Hyundai Rockstar Santa Fe Concept Isn’t Your Typical Family Crossover

By Miles Branman Published August 6, 2021

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) knows how to draw out the looniest in people. Frankenstein vehicles from major automakers and tiny tuning houses alike assemble each year in Las Vegas, Nevada. Some are inspired works of art, others are real head-scratchers. Either way, it’s entertaining.

Honda, Toyota, Mazda, and other Japanese automakers have a big presence at SEMA, but recently Hyundai has become more involved. This year, the Korean brand teamed up with Rockstar Energy to build this insane Santa Fe off-road concept. Its official name is the Hyundai Rockstar Santa Fe Concept and it’s as wild as the people who guzzle energy drinks day in and day out.

Recommended Videos

Hyundai morphed the Santa Fe into a rock-crawling, dirt-running monster mobile by installing a completely new suspension system that increases the ride height for extra ground clearance, adding aftermarket King shocks to soak up bumps, and fitting massive 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw tires on 17-inch, bead-lock wheels. Designed for off-road and military vehicles, bead-lock wheels allow the tire to be bolted to the rim, so it doesn’t come off if deflated. Yea, this thing is legit.

As if the wheel-and-tire package didn’t give the Rockstar Santa Fe enough attitude, Hyundai added LED light bars, rock sliders and bumpers, and a custom roof rack. A winch is also built into the front bumper in case the Rockstar Santa Fe goes exploring alone and is caught without traction. Inside, it’s custom all the way, with leather upholstery and unique hardware.

The 3.3-liter V6 shared with stock Hyundai Santa Fe crossovers was treated to a custom exhaust system and nitrous oxide (or Nos, as the racer community refers to it). The juice should put the Santa Fe concept well past its stock 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque specs, but Hyundai wouldn’t quote a specific power output. The Korean car-maker will also bring a 1,000-hp Santa Fe built by tuner Bisimoto to SEMA, so clearly there’s some potential in that engine.

It’s weird to say that the Rockstar Santa Fe Concept is tame, but considering the wild stuff that floats through the Las Vegas Convention Center this time a year, a juiced-up crossover is pretty modest.

Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…

Auto

Genesis unveils its GMR-001 hypercar to compete in Le Mans

Le mans ready GMR-001 Hypercar from Genesis

genesis unveils its gmr 001 hypercar to compete in le mans 5216 genesismagmaracingdebutsfull scalegmr 001hypercarusheringinan

Last week, Genesis made quite a splash by unveiling its first full-scale GMR-001 hypercar in New York City. This brand new, low-slung beauty was showcased at the New York International Auto Show before heading off to compete in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans next year.

Before this, Genesis had shown off an earlier version of the race car through its racing team, Genesis Magma Racing a year ago. The new prototype is all set for LMDh endurance racing, which means it’ll be not only part of the FIA World Endurance Championship—where the iconic Le Mans race takes place—but also the IMSA SportsCar Championship, known for epic races like the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Auto

The 2024 Range Rover Sport p400 SE: ‘Entry level’ yet feature packed

An 'entry-level' Range Rover is still pretty superb

Range Rover P400SE Sfront 3/4 View

The term “luxury SUV” is surprisingly broad. It can include everything from relatively affordable brands like Genesis all the way through to efforts from the likes of Rolls-Royce. Land Rover Range Rover, with its decades of history, long list of well-regarded clientele, and ultra-high-end touches, is definitely in the latter category. But even the most prestigious brands have “entry-level” models. In the Range Rover Sport’s case, that’s the P400 SE.

Despite it lacking the hefty V8 its big brothers tend to have, the 3.0-liter straight-six with its mild hybrid accompaniment still produces plenty of power. That power also comes along exactly when you want it, at almost any speed. I recently had an opportunity to see what the 2024 Range Rover P400 SE is like as a daily driver. Here’s why I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.

Auto

F1 engineer reveals how he found a job and fulfillment with the Red Bull pit crew

Nicholas provides plenty of evidence that work in an F1 pit garage is a high-pressure job

Life in the Pitlane by Calum Nicholas bookcover shot against road with yellow centerlines.

Anyone who aspires to work for a Formula 1 racing team would do well to read Calum Nicholas's new book, Life in the Pitlane. Nicholas, a senior engineer who has been part of the F1 Red Bull Racing team since 2015. He is also a member of the pit crew that held the 1.82-second world record for the fastest Formula One pitstop from 2019 until 2023.
How Nicholas found a job with the Red Bull F1 pit crew

Nicholas details his journey as a young man growing up in England. He had an interest in cars, but lacked direction until he attended the Formula 1 2009 British Grand Prix at Silverstone with his mother. Prior to the race, they walked the pit lane, an experience Nicholas now describes as a "light-bulb moment."