Render - Next gen Hyundai ix35

Here is an illustration of the next generation Hyundai ix35 (Hyundai Tucson) by Car And Driver Brazil. The magazine is laying claim that the successor to the five-year old ix35 (last refreshed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show) would be inspired in design by the Intrado concept, shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014.

Car & Driver expects the new ix35, in some ways, to also look like a mini Santa Fe (note that a senior Hyundai designer in Korea had told IAB last year that the Santa Fe's 'Storm Edge' design is exclusive to it) and its wheelbase would be longer than the current SUV to provide more legroom to rear passengers. The ix35's main competitors are the VW Tiguan and the Ford Kuga.

Another reason explained for the upsizing is the differentiation factor with the ix25, which is Hyundai's new entry-level SUV. If Hyundai dropped a couple of jump seats at the back or offered a long wheelbase variant as with the Santa Fe, the seven-seater could be launched in India as an attack on the Mahindra XUV500.

While the 2.0-liter petrol engine would be retained, the report puts a new seven speed transmission option alongside it. The fit and finish would improve 'in a noticeable level' and the equipment list would also grow, as Park Assist, for instance, would be a standard equipment, writes the Brazilian magazine.

[Source - caranddriverbrasil.uol.com.br]