Hyundai, the South Korean carmaker, has unveiled the 2024 Santa Fe, the company's popular SUV in its fifth generation. Unlike its predecessors, the new-generation model has become more rugged, boxier, and striking in terms of style. The new aggressive off-road version of the Santa Fe has been dubbed, the XRT. The automaker's existing XRT trim option, accessible in vehicles such as the Santa Fe, the Tucson, the Palisade, and the Santa Cruz, provides a more robust exterior compared to its standard counterparts; yet, the Santa Fe XRT concept pushes beyond simply cosmetic changes. Commenting on the debut, Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said, “The all-new Santa Fe’s bold and powerful identity, which encompasses the boundless outdoors and urban landscape, will establish an unrivaled presence in the midsized SUV market. Since the first-generation Santa Fe’s debut 23 years ago, this iconic SUV has won the hearts of millions of customers around the globe.”
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Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Concept: Styling Cues
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a brand-new three-row family SUV. The significant overhaul features a more prominent aesthetic due to its retro look and protruding fenders. With a somewhat boxier profile, an increased wheelbase, and conspicuous H-shaped design components including taillights, daytime running lights, and a lower grille motif, the standard Santa Fe departs from its predecessor. It is also the largest Santa Fe in its line. The rear profile features a distinctive appearance with a low-set squared taillight and an extra-wide tailgate. The Santa Fe also appears more purposeful and rough because of its taller bonnet, shorter front overhangs, longer rear overhangs, and crisp body lines. This concept version expands on these cues to cater to a specific market niche that values exploring the outdoors.
Although specific improvements aren't described, observable upgrades include an increased ride height, large BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres, as well as enhanced approach & departure angles as a result of underbody adjustments. The design comes with a variety of extras, including cargo boxes reminiscent of those on the Land Rover Defender, a strong roof rack with a luggage carrier, a spare tyre, and a tailgate ladder.
Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Concept: Interior and Safety Features
The standard Santa Fe comes with a light-coloured seat fabric, which lends the vehicle a feeling of openness, even if the Santa Fe XRT concept's interior has not been made public. The cabin has a luxurious feel thanks to the use of high-quality materials all over. The car is also equipped with innovative connected technologies and contemporary conveniences, such as a touchscreen infotainment system and a curved display that houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
According to the industry reports, there are no current plans to bring the XRT concept into production form as of now. The manufacturer could still think about presenting a comparable alternative in the future given the rising popularity of off-road vehicles like the Land Cruiser from the house of Toyota.
The Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 has a wide range of cutting-edge driver assistance systems. In addition to others, it has navigation-based cruise control, speed limit assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning with driver monitoring, forward collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic avoidance.
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Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Concept: Powertrain Details
The Santa Fe will presumably feature comparable powertrain options to the previous model, though Hyundai has not yet provided the exact figures. The firm has replaced the outgoing Santa Fe's base 188bhp four-cylinder with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 273bhp and 422Nm of torque. This engine can drive the front wheels or all four wheels using an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe hybrid, on the contrary, is anticipated to have the same hybrid system and 1.6-litre turbocharged gas engine with roughly 223bhp. It will be fascinating to find out how the engine systems handle the weight of the new Santa Fe (2,154kg) if there are no general power upgrades.
By August 2023, the new Hyundai Santa Fe will be available for purchase in its native South Korea; however, deliveries for the same in the United States won't commence until the first half of 2024.
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