Futuristic Hyundai Staria ‘spaceship’ officially revealed

Having dropped the first teaser images last week, Hyundai has now revealed more albeit select details of its replacement for the H-1, the Staria.

The first model to feature what the South Korean automaker describes as an “inside-out” design, the futuristic, spaceship-style Staria rides on a new platform and boasts a full width LED light strip above the Hyundai logo below the bonnet, a slanted windscreen and an expansive grille flanked on either side by cube-style LED headlights.

New Hyundai Staria rear view. Pictures: Supplied

Split from the lower air intake by the number plate bar, the Staria’s windows are bigger than those of the H-1, the shoulder line significantly lower and the LED taillights vertical with clear clusters.

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Reserved for the top-spec Premium are 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a mesh pattern for the grille and a tinted chrome finish on the door handles, mirror caps and the Hyundai logo.

Hyundai Staria’s cab.

Just as radical departure from the H-1 is the Staria’s interior, which will provide seating for two in the case of the panel van, seven, nine and eleven with the latter trio being offered on the Premium as well.

In seven-seat configuration, the chairs are laid-out in a 2-2-3 layout with those in the second row able to recline in a style similar to that of the Toyota Quantum VX. In the nine-seater, the 2-2-2-3 layout means the second and third rows can swivel 180 degrees, therefore resulting in a lounge-style look similar to the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Volkswagen T6.1 Caravelle.

At most, the Staria will offer seating for eleven.

The space-age looks continue up front in the shape of a completely redesigned dashboard housing not only a new tablet-like 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but also a thin digital instrument binnacle placed on top of the dash rather than being integrated.

Along with the horizontal air-conditioning vents, the Staria loses the H-1’s dash mounted gear lever in favour of a push-button setup similar to the Palisade, located to the left underneath the infotainment system. Again offered on the Premium is a 64 colour ambient lighting system.

Staria in nine-seat guise.

Underneath the stubby bonnet, Hyundai will provide the Staria with a line-up of petrol and diesel engines, however, no details were disclosed. A hint has however been provided in the spotting of a 3.5 badge on the tailgate, which has seemingly identified the petrol engine.

A displacement Hyundai only offers in the Grandeur in South Korea, a model which came to South Africa a decade or so ago badged as the Azera, the 3.5-litre unit produces 210kW/338Nm and is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Staria’s in standard nine-seat form.

While the transmission is certainty as evident by the new gear arrangement, the final output could potentially be less. In the case of the diesel, the familiar 148kW/441Nm 2.2-litre unit appears the likely candidate to replace the H-1’s dated 2.5 CRDI.

Front-wheel-drive instead of rear-wheel-drive like the H-1, the Staria will go on sale from the first half of this year with final specification to be announced in due course.

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