Much more than a facelift.

Hyundai has teased more images of its forthcoming Sante Fe model upgrade.

The fourth-generation Sante Fe is now approaching the midpoint in its lifecycle and as such, some design upgrades are to be expected.

An official teaser image shows newT-shaped LEDs framing the grille. This front illumination arrangement is typical of Hyundai’s current design language. Sante Fe also gains a new geometric patterned grille, dominating the vehicle’s front-view.

It is not merely appearance where Hyundai’s product team has been busy improving the Sante Fe. This revised Sante Fe is also expected to ride on Hyundai’s N3 vehicle platform, which has been a huge investment for the Korean company.

This futuristic vehicle architecture prioritises having both a low centre of gravity and ease of hybridization. The N3 platform is Hyundai’s most advanced in terms of electronic integration, with sufficient sensor capacity for level 4 autonomous driving.

Hyundai might be sparse with technical details about the new Sante Fe’s engine and drivetrain changes, but evolution to building it on the company’s N3 platform opens the possibility of powerful new hybrid powertrain choices.

Those Hyundai followers who are taken by the promise of pure-electric drive and battery-power, should in all likelihood, have the option on a plug-in BEV version of the new Sante Fe.

The new Sante Fe is expected to launch first, in Europe by September. Right-hand drive markets in the southern hemisphere should receive the new version early in 2021.

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