Hyundai Santa Fe Endurance celebrates Antarctic crossing
New special edition Santa Fe SUV will be limited to 500 units and is a road-going tribute to two Trans-Antarctic expeditions
Hyundai has revealed a new special edition Santa Fe SUV called the Santa Fe Endurance, offering buyers a choice of unique paint colours and plenty of standard equipment.
The car celebrates a recent stunt staged by Hyundai – a 30-day expedition across Antarctica in a modified Santa Fe completed by Patrick Bergel, the great grandson of famed polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.
The Santa Fe Endurance edition will be limited to 500 examples in the UK and is based on the 2.2-litre diesel version of the SUV in Premium SE trim, complete with four-wheel-drive and an automatic gearbox.
Buyers also get the Convenience Pack bundled in, introducing driver assists such as autonomous emergency braking, cruise control and Hyundai’s ‘Around View Monitor’ 360-degree lookout system, alongside an electrified tailgate and a panoramic sunroof.
In terms of styling, buyers get a choice of five limited edition colours. The cars are further singled out from the rest of the range with 19-inch alloy wheels, ‘Sport’ side steps and Endurance special edition badging and logos.
Order books for the Santa Fe Endurance open this time next month, and it’ll be priced from £38,995 – a price tag Hyundai says represents a £2,400 saving over a standard 2.2-litre Premium SE model with the Convenience Pack specced.
Hyundai Santa Fe takes on Antarctica
In December 2016, Hyundai took a modified Santa Fe all the way across Antarctica to mark the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914-1916.
The car was modified for the endurance feat, boasting huge, low-pressure tyres, a 250-litre fuel tank and a pre-heater to help combat the coldest place on earth.
The Santa Fe Endurance edition celebrates the continental crossing, and comes complete with touches marking the centenary of the expedition. For instance, the Endurance badging and logos found on the B-pillars and floor mats feature the Shackleton family motto, plus a 28-point compass representing the 28 crew who survived the legendary Antarctic journey 100 years ago.
What car would you entrust on an Antarctic expedition? Let us know in the comments below!
