So remember how we surmised last month that Hyundai is, like, really paranoid about zombies? Now that fear has forced the automaker to jump from building zombie-proofed concept cars to offering breathers the opportunity to purchase an apocalypse-themed vehicle. Doomsday preppers—and fans of The Walking Dead graphic novel series—will be able to buy the 2014 Tucson The Walking Dead Edition early next year. Hopefully, Hyundai is just capitalizing on the popularity of The Walking Dead and its TV adaptation, and doesn't know something we don't.
Compared to the heavily armed, Mad Max–style Elantra, Veloster, and Santa Fe zombie specials Hyundai cooked up in the past, the Walking Dead Tucson is fairly tame. There no spikes, machine guns, circular saws, or window armor. Those sort of items would present issues for anyone intent on traveling during the pre-apocalyptic time where laws and sanity still rule. What the Tucson does get, however, is a neat black paint job with red accent graphics, roof rack rails "for hauling necessary survival gear," mudguards, and custom floor mats. All-wheel drive is standard, which Hyundai says is key when it comes to "off-roading away from the undead." Tell us about it—zombies are excellent outdoorspeople.
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Passengers are treated to a black leather interior that can probably withstand the sort of bloody pulp zombies are known for occasionally spitting up for no reason, and Hyundai even tosses in a 72-hour "survivalist's backpack" for the occasional undead siege. There are four stickers—one per Walking Dead faction, Hilltop, Kingdom, Saviors, and Survivors—included so that "owners can proudly display where their allegiances lie." So there's that. Hyundai says The Walking Dead special edition will hit dealerships in limited numbers, but has yet to announce pricing. No matter; when the impending zombie doomsday scenario hits—you really think this is an "if" scenario?—pricing will be trivial.
Hyundai's concern for this drastic end-of-days scenario is reassuring, but we wish more automakers were as accommodating. When everything goes to hell in a handbasket, we'd like to be wheeling a zombie-proofed Ford F-150 SVT Raptor or diesel Mercedes-Benz G-class, hitting up the nearest abandoned military base for munitions and the local barber shop for beard-grooming supplies.
from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com
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