Hyundai iX35 (2010) and Santa Fe (2010) 4x4s scooped

By Richard Webber

First Official Pictures

16 July 2009 15:50

We’ve scooped a brace of spy shots showing the next generation of Hyundai 4x4s – a facelifted Santa Fe and the iX35, the all-new successor to the Tucson. Both will use Hyundai’s high performance ‘R’ turbodiesel engines and the choice of a manual or new automatic six-speed ‘box.

It’s largely derived from the iX-onic concept shown at Geneva in March 2009, including the snake-eye side glass profile (which has been obscured at the rear on this mule) and at least some of the muscle on the wings. The production car's windscreen is more conservative and doesn’t reach right up to the roofline like that of the iX-onic, and the roof itself has been given ridges like a proper off-roader. Or a van.

The facelifted Santa Fe will get both 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre four-cylinder powerplants, while the iX35 will be available only with the 2.0 litre at launch. Both units are all-aluminium and produce around 90bhp per litre and 145lb ft per litre, nearly 20% up on both counts against the diesel engines from BMW’s X3 and X5.

The iX35 is expected to produce less than 160g/km of CO2, which is great news for company car drivers who might fancy the plush interior and usual Hyundai gadget-fest. Smaller engines will be added to the iX35 range later, including a turbocharged petrol 1.6, which should produce around 170bhp and just 140g/km of CO2.

By Richard Webber