Hyundai working on Tucson's successor, which will launch in 2020 with a very different styling language. Filmed testing at the
Nurburgring, this prototype of the Korean company’s compact SUV has shed the
thicker camo, keeping only the swirly skin wrap that makes it easier to spot
some of the changes. From the bolder grille flanked
by slim headlights, to the roofline that’s more heavily angled at the rear and
the more sculptured tailgate.
We have yet to catch a glimpse of the interior, but
expect it to have very little in common with the outgoing model. If anything,
it needs to up its game in a very competitive segment with rivals like the
popular Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
Hyundai execs have said that they borrowed ideas and materials from the
larger and more expensive Santa Fe when they were developing the interior, so
it should have a more premium feel than today’s car.
The engine lineup will be revised as well. The new
Tucson will likely launch with the 1.6-liter T-GDI and 1.6-liter GDI in Europe,
joined by a hybrid option that might carry over from the Sonata. North America,
on the other hand, is expected to get the 2.5-liter Theta3 power unit, in two
versions: naturally aspirated and turbocharged, connected to an 8-speed
automatic transmission. As usual, the entry-level models will arrive with
front-wheel drive and the better-equipped variants will boast all-wheel drive.
The Koreans could reveal the new Tucson as early as
this November at the LA Auto Show, but even so, we won’t see it in dealerships
until next year.
