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Hyundai goes off its meds and begins preparing for the zombie apocalypse [Updated]

Peter Braun
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hyundai creates the walking dead themed santa fe zsm final
Just think: Hyundai used to be known for its warranties. Image used with permission by copyright holder

No this image isn’t from burning man, or a cartoon spin-off of The Walking Dead: it’s from Hyundai.

Underneath all those guns and blades is a sensible Santa Fe crossover, one of the best rental cars you will ever drive.

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Designed by Anson Kou, the zombie slashing vehicle is the winner of The Walking Dead Chop Shop configurator app contest and will debut at the San Diego Comic-Con next week.

The app was part of an ongoing partnership between Hyundai and the AMC show The Walking Dead. We see it also as Hyundai’s desperate attempt to compete with the Kia hamsters for a younger audience.

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Image used with permission by copyright holder

 The actual car was built by Gaipan Auto Sports – who clearly had a closet filled with spare swords and guns. At the Con, people will be able to get inside the vehicle and check out its features, get zombie face paint, or claim some free swag.

I just hope that swag includes tetanus shots because getting into that car without becoming impaled on it looks just a bit tricky.

So what about the car itself? It has a grab-bag of knives and samurai swords, razor wired windows, aluminum armor (for zombies that throw rocks?), an automatic crossbow, and three machine guns. This all sounds good in theory except maybe the crossbow, which, despite having been banned by the pope, has been out of date since the 16th century.

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Image used with permission by copyright holder

In practice though, I have questions. Razor wire on the windows seems more likely to just act like zombie flypaper then to be any real barrier. And while the Santa Fe is a good car it isn’t exactly overflowing with power, or, for that matter, off-roading prowess. Adding several thousand pounds of pointy and shooty bits probably hasn’t helped 0-60 much.

Still, it is a commendable first effort. I am not such a spoilsport that I won’t offer Mr. Kou, or the Hyundai design team, a ride in my zombie apocalypse mobile when I find them stuck on the first speed-bump.

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Image used with permission by copyright holder

If nothing else, this post-apocalyptic crossover and that “Gangnam Style” song show that the South Korea people have a far better sense of humor than anyone gave them credit for.

Hyundai’s zombie battling Santa Fe may have its flaws, but we are glad that someone is paying attention to issues of serious public concern. 

So I say kudos Hyundai – and keep at it. You may not be perfect, but you are much better at this zombie thing than Brad Pitt. 

Update: Photos shown are now no longer renderings but the actual car in the flesh.

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Peter Braun
Peter Braun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…
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