Tucson

Make
Hyundai
Segment
SUV

Last week, we got another look at the next-generation Hyundai Tucson with less camouflage, giving us a better look at its redesigned front-end. While there were still copious amounts of camouflage covering up the SUV preventing us from seeing the design details, this hasn't stopped Kolesa.ru from creating a render design to show us what the new Tucson could look like.

Our expectations for Hyundai's new compact SUV are high since Sangyup Lee, the vice president of styling at the Hyundai Design Center, claimed the design will make you "freak out," and if these renders are accurate then we can definitely expect it to have a radical redesign. The new Sonata is one of the best-looking sedans in its class, and the Tucson looks like it could do the same for the compact SUV segment.

At the front, the render artist has added Hyundai's new cascading grille with a design echoing the Grandmaster concept and a split headlight design that matches other current Hyundai models like the new Santa Fe and Venue. Unfortunately, the back of the Tucson prototype spied last week is still heavily covered up, so the design shown in Kolesa's render is based on pure speculation.

However, the prototype's license plate was repositioned on the trunk lid rather than the bumper like on the current crossover. Kolesa believes the Tucson is likely to use horizontally elongated taillights, which have been depicted with the same style as the Santa Fe's rear lights. Overall, it's a very sharp-looking design, even if it doesn't make us "freak out."

As for engine options, the next-generation Tucson is expected to use an all-new Theta3 2.5-liter engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and be available with front- and all-wheel-drive. In the US, this engine is expected to be available with turbo and non-turbo 2.5-liter variants for the base model. It could also borrow the new Sonata's 2.0 GDi HEV hybrid powertrain.

We won't know if Kolsea's renders are accurate for a long time since the new Tucson isn't expected to debut until next year as a 2021 model. No doubt the prototypes will lose some more camouflage between now and then.