Get a load of this …. Hyundai’s spaceship-styled Staria is fully revealed.

NO word yet from Hyundai in New Zealand, but with other markets – including Australia – indicating they’re starters, the star signs are surely looking good for this dramatic looking next-generation people-mover making a local debut.

The Staria is touted as a replacement for the iMax, the passenger version of the iLoad van, and in that people-provisioning format it will be built in seven-seater and nine-seater variants, with a luxury Premium edition billed in the latter format.

After sharing teaser images last week, Hyundai has now properly revealed the model and offered unexpurgated viewing of its mono-cell body.

The Premium version seen here is wearing a '3.5' badge. Does this mean its powertrain could be borrowed from the recently-released Santa Fe, offering 200kW and 332Nm via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic?

A turbo diesel is likely to be offered in entry-level Staria models, and could use a version of the Santa Fe's 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder, or potentially the 137kW/416Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder borrowed from the new-generation Tucson, also incoming to NZ soon.

Hyundai dealers in Australia have been told all-wheel-drive versions may be available. That’s of relevance here; our markets often share common models.

It’s thought the Staria, and the next-gen iLoad, will ditch the current generations’ rear-wheel drive layout for a front-drive monocoque platform.

The passenger version will incorporate independent coil rear suspension whereas the commercial editions are on a solid leaf-sprung rear axle.

Hyundai says the interior has been inspired by the lounge of a cruise ship, hence the enormous dark-tinted panoramic windows.

Staria will be offered in multiple seating configurations, with bench seat options in lower-spec variants taking up to 11 occupants. That latter provision comes with a model with four rows of seats that will apparently only sell in South Korea.

The top-spec variants will have individual arm rest for front and middle row passengers. Captain seats, with 180 degree swivelling function in the second row, will also have ottoman and recline function.

Infotainment will come from a centrally-mounted 10.25-inch screen, and the driver will be greeted with a digital instrument cluster and a button-type shift lever.