The ix35/Tucson came out in 2009 and now it is said that it will be replaced by the new generation next year. This has been one of the best-selling vehicles to come from Hyundai and the car maker has started to put the finishing touches to the 3rd gen, which is thought to be going on sale a year from now.
You should not expect to see a run of the mill make-over for the car. The US spec Tucson has been just slightly revamped over the 2015 model and the Euro spec i35 was treated to a minor refresh last September. The South Korean compact SUV is five years old and this will be getting a newer version that should be more fuel efficient, refined, better and bigger.
We saw the pre-production test of the test vehicle, which is said to be the third gen ix35/Tucson and it is a case of “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” You do have to look very hard to see what is new. Check out the render here.
First there are the modern HID headlights that come with LED daytime running lights and these do look cool and make a huge different. The grille takes on a design inspired by Santa-Fe and there are trapezoidal fog lights that make the car look even more aggressive. The profile of the third gen test spec car does have sportier A pillars and the fender flares are chunkier.
At the back there is the integrated rear bumper along with LED taillights, but its on the interior where the biggest of the improvements are found. The centre stack lacks buttons and the instruments cluster along with the design of the air vents take their cue from the modern models in the Hyundai range. All depending on where you live, the new ix35/Tucson is going to arrive in four pot gas or diesel, with a six speed stick shift or an automatic.
