Hyundai reveals more of Santa Fe

HYUNDAI used its Facebook page to release images of the upcoming third-generation Santa Fe mid-size crossover ahead of next week’s New York auto show debut.

The photos follow release two weeks ago of computer-generated images that clearly revealed the new SUV’s overall style, which is said to herald a new variation of the Korean car-maker’s Fluidic Sculpture design theme that will be called Storm Edge.

The front-end photo shown here – which emphasises the three-bar grille design and LED-infused lighting – was officially posted by Hyundai after being leaked by a Korean blog, which said it came from a Korean-language brochure, and picked up by other websites globally.

The leaked brochure also revealed fore-and-aft sliding middle-row seating for the seven-seater and likely optional equipment such as retractable window shades, heated and cooled seating, leather upholstery, a lane-departure warning system and a driver’s knee airbag.

Additional photos subsequently released by Hyundai show detail of the swept-back headlights, daytime-running lights, LED-style tail-lights and 19-inch five-double-spoke alloy wheels.

The Santa Fe will go on sale in Australia late this year, when Hyundai Australia will be hoping it will improve on the 5.5 per cent share of the medium SUV market it has snared in the past two years – a long way behind the Ford Territory, Toyota Prado, Toyota Kluger and Holden Captiva 7.

The new model in Australia will continue to use the Santa Fe name that has been employed here since 2000, rather than the ix45 badge to be used in some other markets such as Europe.

No engine information has yet been revealed, but expect the new Santa Fe to be powered by a version of the lusty 2.2-litre R-Series four-cylinder turbo-diesel that is fitted to the outgoing model and a version of the current base model’s 3.5-litre petrol V6 – perhaps fitted with direct fuel-injection.

The diesel was the only engine available until a new entry-level front-wheel-drive petrol version joined the range last May, dropping the entry price by $1000 to $36,990 plus on-road costs.

Expect a six-speed automatic transmission to continue as standard across the new model range in Australia.