Hyundai announces Special Edition Paddon Santa Fe
Hyundai New Zealand is celebrating Hayden Paddon’s historic nine minute victory at Rally Otago with the announcement of a new Special Edition of its award-winning Santa Fe SUV. Bowater Hyundai has one in the showroom, available now.
Paddon, New Zealand’s most successful rally driver, partnered with his regular navigator John Kennard and drove a new Hyundai New Zealand built i20 rally car to win Rally Otago, giving the AP4 version of the i20 its maiden victory on debut.
Hyundai New Zealand General Manager, Andy Sinclair, said the company had begun planning the Hayden Paddon Special Edition Santa Fe – HP Edition for short – when Paddon re-signed with Hyundai New Zealand as well as with the factory rally team for the coming three seasons in October 2015.
“The Santa Fe Series II was going out to showrooms at the time, and knowing how deep the passion for our SUVs runs with Kiwi motorists, it seemed appropriate to mark the occasion with a Special Edition version. Then when the i20 AP4 project came together and Hayden won Otago by such a huge margin, it made the Santa Fe even more significant,” he said.
Hayden Paddon says there are few better ways to acknowledge the exciting relationship between Hyundai New Zealand and himself.
“The new Santa Fe is an awesome SUV that really suits the Kiwi way of life and this Special Edition version is very cool. Hyundai has been incredibly supportive of us over the past few championship seasons, and now there’s a chance for customers to share in this relationship and maybe even come watch us in action.”
Each Hayden Paddon Special Edition Santa Fe comes with two signed Hyundai WRC rally jackets,a rally experience with Hayden Paddon and the NZ-built i20 rally car in New Zealand, and the chance to win a VIP tour for two people to see Hayden Paddon in action with the Hyundai World Rally Team at Rally Australia in November 2016.
“That’s a one in 50 chance for the rally experience of a lifetime. Hayden’s form this year has been excellent, and we can expect he will really turn it on at Rally Australia,” said Andy Sinclair.
“The Special Edition Santa Fe is offered by Hyundai’s national network of dealers to Hyundai customers who are looking to stand out on urban streets, in car parks at winter sports and on rural byways.”
Based on the CRDI Elite 7S version of the new Santa Fe Series II launched in late 2015, the HP version arrives from the factory fitted with Brembo brakes, 19 inch OZ Racing alloy wheels fitted with Michelin tyres, sports-tuned suspension and a subtle but distinctive body kit.
Local additions include a blacked-out front grille, tinted windows and HP-branded interior items including dashboard badges, HP embossed headrests and centre console with signature orange stitching, bespoke orange-stitched door armrests and HP-branded floor mats.
Outside there are tasteful HP Edition graphics, HP wheel centre caps and badging.
The Hayden Paddon Special Edition Santa Fe is priced at $79,990 RRP.
“People wanting to celebrate this sensational partnership between Hayden and Hyundai – and to make a very stylish Special Edition Santa Fe their own – would be well to move quickly. We don’t expect these 50 vehicles to be around the dealerships very long,” says Andy.
