The fourth-generation Hyundai Tucson is coming to Australia in late 2020 and the redesigned medium SUV could be offered here with an electrified powertrain to take on the popular Toyota RAV4 hybrid models.
Spy photos of the all-new Korean SUV show a radical new front-end design that borrows heavily from the Hyundai Vision T concept shown at the 2019 Los Angeles motor show, while these new renderings hint at dramatic new lines and sharp angles.
Although few details of the production car have been revealed, Hyundai Australia is aiming for a late 2020 or early 2021 launch Down Under.
Equipment levels and tech features are expected to be upgraded, as are powertrain options -- which could include a plug-in hybrid version for the first time in Australia.
"We're currently looking at the business case for electrified powertrains for the Australian market," confirmed Hyundai Australia's PR senior manager, Guido Schenken.
At this stage it's not clear if the new Tucson will be offered with multiple electrification options, including plug-in and plug-less hybrids. Given the success of the Toyota RAV4 hybrid in Australia – where it was the second best-selling car in February, when more than 60 per cent of sales were hybrids – you can see why Hyundai is looking into the local prospects of the Tucson plug-in hybrid.
Currently priced between $30,000 and $50,000, the current Tucson's replacement will also get a radical new design, as previewed by the Hyundai Vision T concept.
Spy photos of the 2020 Hyundai Tucson reveal the production vehicle will get a bold new multifaceted grille that looks very similar to the concept car's, complete with comparable daytime LED running lights and slim headlight clusters.
Meanwhile, computer-generated renders from Korean artist AtchaCars show how the finished product could look, by taking a little inspiration from various sources including the concept car and the new Hyundai Elantra.
Leaked data from Korea suggests the new Tucson – which is codenamed NX4 – will enter production in Korean from August 2020.
The Hyundai Tucson has been a crucial model for the Korean marque Down Under, finding almost 17,000 buyers last year to become the brand's second best-selling model behind the i30 with 26,443 sales in 2019.
As the fourth most popular SUV in its segment – which happens to be the biggest new vehicle segment in Australia – the Hyundai Tucson trails the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan X-TRAIL.
The all-new Tucson will get more luggage space, safety and technology, but you can also expect high-performance hero versions of the all-new SUV as well, wearing the Tucson N and Tucson N Line badges.