SerpApi.Org
It's not just the roads that SUVs have taken over, but also the racing paddocks. Now, rather than trucks and vans, SUVs are the weapon of choice for racing support vehicles hauling tires and spare parts around. Hyundai's support rig for the Elantra N TCR race car is a bit different, though, as other brands have high-performance SUVs to show off. Instead, Hyundai has given the off-road-leaning Palisade XRT Pro a practical makeover with input from Hyundai’s N performance division.
The Official Paddock Partner To The Elantra N TCR
The one-off (so far) build is working for the factory-supported Bryan Herta Autosport team in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. Its job is to move tools, spare tires, and product placement gear for the sponsors, Motul and WeatherTech. Aesthetically, it looks the part with its grey paint and Hyundai N decals and BF Goodrich T/A tires on five-spoke alloys.
Then a hitch-mounted carrier holds a pair of spare wheels and tires, leaving space for tools, fluid, high-strength recovery straps, and anything else that needs to be kept handy in the cargo area. Up top, the Palisade XRT Pro is kitted out with a Thule roof rack for larger items, but already comes with two hooks for when things have really gone wrong. The auxiliary LED bar makes sense, but not so much the rock sliders.
It Makes Sense To Use The XRT Version
The Palisade is a solid choice for an application like this, as it will need to move people around as well as race car things. With speed limits in paddocks and around racetracks in general, there's no need for a hot SUV, but one with plenty of interior space, all-wheel drive, and some tow hooks as standard makes sense. The chunky tires won't be scrabbling up mountains, but if it has to cross sopping wet grass or get into a gravel trap, they'll become useful.
When the XRT Pro line first showed up, a Hyundai representative said, "XRT Pro is a very different formula, but funnily enough, when we get to the actual product and the qualities it delivers, and the experience it delivers, it’s actually got a little bit of N about it." This wasn't what he had in mind, though – that was talking about the XRT Pro moving at speed in desert conditions.
The Palisade XRT Hauling Specs
For use as a hauler, the XRT flavor of Palisade comes with Hyundai's 3.5-liter V6 making 287 hp with 260 lb-ft of torque, and the capability to pull up to 5,000 lbs. In case you're wondering, the minimum weight for the race car is 2,788 pounds, with the driver inside, so it will be able to pull it comfortably if need be. The road-going version will be heavier, but if you want a support vehicle for track days, a V6-powered Hyundai Palisade will still be enough.
The Hyundai Palisade is a three-row crossover, so it can pack 7 people in if need be. However, with the third row of seats up, it cuts cargo space from 46.3 cubic feet down to a measly 19.1 cubic feet. However, with the second and third row folded down, there's 86.7 cubic feet free to use. That's plenty for tires and spare parts, and then if body parts need to be pulled in, there's always the roof rack.
