Expecting a debut at the 2012 New York Motor Show is the Hyundai flagship SUV, the Santa Fe Fluidic. However, the third generation SUV has been in news for around a year with teasers and leaked images of the latest from Fluidic Sculpture design language, the Storm Edge. With barely a month to go, more details emerge on the internet bout the Korean SUV, with details on its powerplant.
With significant changes on the exterior, the Santa Fe Fluidic features more aggressive and aerodynamic appeal with hexagonal grille and wider front & rear bumpers. With flow lines matching that of Range Rover Evoque, the 2013 Santa Fe Fluidic gives a glimpse of what the future Hyundai SUV lineup will be like. We also expect Hyundai to ditch the current seven-seater variant for a more compact five-seater version for the international markets.
Under the hood of 2013 Santa Fe Fluidic is a diesel motor capable of pumping as much as 225 bhp peak power and a humongous 500 Nm peak torque. Moreover, this power is coming from the same 2.2-litre Gamma Common Rail Turbo Diesel engine powering the current Santa Fe. However, for increased proportionality in power figure, the 197 bhp/ 420 Nm diesel motor is supplemented by a single variable geometry turbocharger. Apart from the increased power and torque figures, the new twin turbo diesel engine also provided with better fuel economy and improved emission figures.
The current Hyundai Santa Fe SUV comes to India via CKD route and is assembled at the Chennai plant, so we can expect the 2013 variant also coming to shores very soon. However, there is no detail if the top range diesel motor will be offered to the India market.
When launched, Santa Fe Fluidic will go up in market against Toyota Fortuner and newly launched Chevrolet Captiva. Stay tuned for more details surfacing as the New York Motor Show approaches
