Hyundai Turned Its Family SUV Into the Ultimate Race Weekend Workhorse

Most race teams rely on performance SUVs or cargo vans to keep things running behind the scenes. Hyundai had a different idea. Instead of building a track-focused support vehicle, it transformed the rugged Palisade XRT Pro into a one-off workhorse for its Elantra N TCR race program.

Its job isn't to lead the field or set lap records. The SUV spends race weekends hauling spare tires, tools, fluids, and equipment around the paddock. The choice of the XRT Pro might seem unexpected, but Hyundai notes the trim was developed with input from its N division. Even so, the latest Palisade is bigger, heavier, and less performance-focused than the model it replaced.

The one-off build wears a dark gray finish with N Performance red-orange stripes, light blue checkered flag graphics, sponsor decals, and N Track Support Vehicle branding. It also keeps the XRT Pro's rugged look, complete with recovery points, rock sliders, a Thule roof rack, an auxiliary LED light bar, and BFGoodrich all-terrain tires on black five-spoke wheels.

Practicality is the real priority. A hitch-mounted carrier at the rear holds an extra set of wheels for quick tire changes around the circuit. The cargo area carries another wheel fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tires, along with Motul racing fluids, recovery straps, a heavy-duty storage case, a WeatherTech cargo mat, and a custom Bell helmet belonging to IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge driver Mark Wilkins.

Hyundai has no plans to put the Palisade XRT Pro into production. It was built exclusively to support Bryan Herta Autosport during the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, where hauling gear is more important than setting lap times.