Even after confirming its launch for the 5th of February, Hyundai is testing the third-generation Santa Fe SUV. Readers of Team-BHP have posted pictures of the test mule spotted on the highway connecting Bangalore and Chennai.
The third-generation Santa Fe, like now, will be assembled at Hyundai's manufacturing facility outside Chennai, enabling the company to price it competitively against segment leader Toyota Fortuner. The Santa Fe has been testing in and around Chennai for over a year now.
The Santa Fe is sure to get only a diesel powertrain. Even though the car is offered in a petrol avatar in Europe, India will get only the 2.2-liter CRDI engine. The diesel motor develops 195 hp and is likely to get both a manual and an automatic gearbox. The automatic is likely to be mated to both a two-wheel drive and a four-wheel drive system, and the manual will be limited to the two-wheel drive system (unverified).
The third-generation Santa Fe is all-new with very few similarities to the outgoing car. Its exterior is lavished with a new grille, projector headlamps and a new set of foglamps with integrated daytime running lights. At the rear, the SUV gets a new look and refreshed taillight cluster that incorporates LED.
[Source - Team-BHP]
