Hyundai is certainly not holding back anything anymore in the styling of its latest models.
Hyundai released images teasing the new exterior and interior design of the next-generation Tucson SUV. Set for a full release on the 15th of September, these images shows us what is to come for the forth iteration of this mid-sized Korean crossover.
Despite the dark, moody, murky teaser images released by Hyundai, one could clearly see that the upcoming Tucson will be a radical departure in terms of design from the conservative-looking current model.
The front end design is perhaps what would be most talked about for this upcoming SUV. It is not too uncommon to see the South Koreans play around with the front end design, the funky looking Kia Sportage sets precedent in that category. That being said, this upcoming Tucson though raises the stakes with the cascading LED front light design flanking what appears to be a blocked-off black front grille adorned with a large Hyundai badge.
A highly-sculpted front bumper with large front air dams on either side and a shapely bonnet help complement the chiseled-jaw retro-futuristic look that Hyundai is aiming to accomplish with Tucson.
Round the side, a floating roof design that is now commonplace in this segment is achieved on the upcoming Tucson using a metallic trim piece that runs along the window line, ending with a wide strip at the rear with fake vents to provide contrast between the body and the roof. A new alloy wheel design that is somewhat reminiscent of the previous generation Kia Sportage has also been teased.
Hyundai claims that its new ‘Parametric Dynamics’ design language gives this new Tucson ‘a slinky coupé-like character’, all the while being bigger and wider than the outgoing model.
Speaking of dimensions, Hyundai announced that the new Tucson will be offered in both short and long wheelbases. Still being sold under one name, the Korean automaker claims that the Tucson will be the first C-SUV in its class to be offered this flexibility. However, it remains to be seen if Malaysia will be one of the markets where both wheelbases are offered.
At the back, Hyundai appears to have copied design cues from Peugeot with its rear light design. While still unmistakably a Tucson with its shapely, curvaceous rear end design, the four light strips connected to a rear light bar that runs the full width of the rear of the Tucson does look very similar to the rear end of the current crop of Peugeot SUVs. The rear metallic skid plate also, while a feature that has been seen since the first generation Tucson, seems out of place in this increasingly on-road biased SUV.
Moving on to the interior, the proposed cabin of the upcoming Tucson certainly is as radically different as the exterior. What Hyundai terms as ‘Interspace’, the interior of this as-yet-unlaunched Korean SUV will apparently feature a cascading waterfall-like central column, with a void behind the central fascia. Much like the Volvos of the mid-2000s.
From the sole sketch of the interior, it would also seem that the Tucson will feature a two-spoke wheel and a digital instrument display. The one word that can be used to describe the interior will probably be minimalistic, seeing as the interior has been decluttered and smoothed out to the point where even the air-con vents are just slits above the portrait central infotainment display.
It remains to be seen how much of these teasers and sketches actually make it into the production version of the Tucson, which as mentioned prior will be officially launched in the next few days. That being said, with Hyundai’s current crop of radical designs actually out in showrooms globally, it would not be surprising that most of these concept-car features will actually make it into the production Tucson.
PRESS RELEASE: Hyundai Motor Company today revealed the first images of its all-new Tucson. New design highlights include the latest evolution of Hyundai’s signature headlamp architecture called ‘Parametric Hidden Lights’ and a dual cockpit layout that offers personalized space intuitively optimized for a high-tech user experience. The images hint at innovative features befitting Tucson’s signature boldness and pioneering spirit.
For its fourth generation, Hyundai took the all-new Tucson to the next level of automotive design, making it the first C-SUV in its class to be available in two different dimensions, while sharing the same name.
“The mission of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ is to elevate the emotional qualities of automotive design. We want our customers to feel moved. With the all-new Tucson, we are introducing its ultimate evolution and a definitive statement about Hyundai’s unstoppable forward momentum,” said SangYup Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Center. “Tucson’s advanced, experimental design is true to its pioneering spirit and raises the game in the industry’s most competitive segment.”
Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design identity, first introduced on the new Elantra, brings an emotional punch to Tucson’s avant-garde ‘Parametric Dynamics’ design theme.
The ‘Parametric Dynamics’ exterior that makes a strong first impression
The all-new Tucson’s advanced exterior styling expresses what Hyundai designers call ‘Parametric Dynamics’ with kinetic jewel-like surface details that will have people doing a double take. Parametric Hidden Lights provide a strong first impression. These signature DRLs (daytime running lights) are seamlessly integrated into the jewel-like grille, only revealed when turned on.
Overall, the new Tucson’s body is bigger and wider than previous generation models, offering a long hood and short overhangs on a stretched wheelbase that give it a slinky coupé-like character. From the side, angular body panels offer yet another interpretation of parametric design. Chiseled surfaces create a striking contrast between sleek silhouette and masculine wedge, suggesting forward motion even when standing still. Taut athletic shapes seamlessly merge into angular wheel arches where alloy wheels provide a powerful and dynamic stance.
An ‘INTERSPACE’ with an integrated interface
Getting into the all-new Tucson’s spacious interior, or INTERSPACE, is like entering a neatly organized room where everyday concerns disappear, not unlike the feeling of a modern boutique hotel where your comfort and convenience are the utmost priority. In the new Tucson, space, technology and information intersect harmoniously.
The evolution of Tucson’s interior layout led to a lower instrument display and removal of the gauge cluster housing for a decluttered surface. Layered, sensuous forms reinforce the feeling of openness. The broad ridge of the dashboard blends seamlessly with the doors, wrapping around front occupants like a deep gorge. The vertically oriented, fully integrated center fascia descends to the console like a mighty waterfall. Twin silver garnish lines streaming from the center fascia to the rear doors harmonize neatly layered premium surface materials in complementary neutral tones.
