Next-Gen Tucson, Primed to Be Latest Jewel in Hyundai’s Lineup, Debuts Sept. 14

We’ve been fans of what Hyundai’s been doing lately: The Palisade (even if ours currently smells) is Cars.com’s reigning Best of 2020 winner, the new Sonata is a worthy challenger to the dominance of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, and the upcoming 2021 Elantra has the looks and tech to take on a crowded field of compact sedans. Even one of Hyundai’s older designs, the Santa Fe, won our most recent mid-size SUV comparison test. Now, Hyundai is revealing teaser images of the next Tucson, with an out-there design that takes what we’ve seen on the new Elantra even further.

Related: Updated Hyundai Kona, Possibly Sporting N Line Version, Coming for 2022

Exterior

It starts with the grille, which features a “jewel-like” design and integrated daytime running lights Hyundai is calling Parametric Hidden Lights. When not turned on, the lights blend into the grille’s design, but when illuminated, the triangular flanks of the grille become triangular groups of LEDs. Given that these are the daytime running lights, it seems Hyundai is sticking to the upper DRL/lower headlight design used elsewhere on vehicles like the Kona and Santa Fe. This sort of lighting element is very concept-like, but all indicators point to it being headed to production.

The rest of the body takes on what Hyundai calls “a slinky coupelike character,” with a forward-sloping cabin design. The body features a number of angular structures similar to the new Elantra’s look, and in back, the triangular theme continues with one LED light bar across the entire liftgate and taillights angled downward toward the SUV’s center point. Hyundai says the new Tucson is “bigger and wider” than the current one and will be available in “two different dimensions.” That usually means standard and long-wheelbase versions, though it’s not yet clear whether the U.S. will get both or just one.

Interior

Inside, Hyundai calls the front layout a “dual cockpit” design, with distinct areas for the driver and front passenger divided by a large center console that appears to have a storage compartment underneath.

It’s tougher to tell what the new Tucson will actually look like since all we have is a drawing. But we can draw (sorry!) a few conclusions, including that Hyundai looks to be adding the push-button gear selector to another vehicle. We can also see a large center infotainment screen and what appears to be a fully digital instrument cluster. What isn’t clear is whether the collection of buttons below the screen are actually part of the screen, physical controls or capacitive-touch buttons.

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We’ll know more about the new Tucson when it debuts Sept. 15 at 9:30 a.m. Korea Standard Time … which is, fortunately, 8:30 p.m. EDT Sept. 14, so we won’t have to pull an all-nighter. Stay tuned for more coverage once the Tucson is revealed.

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