JAKARTA - It's hard to believe, in just a few months the fifth generation Hyundai Santa Fe will be three years old since it was first launched. That means, the popular mid-size SUV will soon enter the mid-cycle facelift schedule, and Hyundai has started road testing using an early prototype.
Launching from Carscoops, Friday, January 23, the test did not go smoothly. Earlier this week, a test vehicle of the still disguised Santa Fe was reported to have caught fire in South Korea, not far from Hyundai's manufacturing center in Ulsan.
Referring to local reports, the driver managed to escape before the fire grew. Unfortunately, the firefighters were unable to quickly control the blaze so that the front of the vehicle was burned.
Initial indications point to a source of fire originating from the interior or around the engine compartment. The flames engulfed the entire front of the SUV, leaving a bent debris and melted material at the point of the fire.
Hyundai itself has acknowledged the incident and stated that it is investigating the cause of the fire. However, the South Korean manufacturer has not revealed details regarding the drive system used by the prototype.
Interestingly, this incident occurred amid Hyundai's efforts to expand its electrification portfolio, including strengthening its hybrid line. The Santa Fe facelift is even said to potentially debut for the first time in an Extended-Range EV (EREV) format, or a long-distance electric vehicle that still carries an internal combustion engine as a power booster.
No technical specifications have been revealed, but this EREV variant is said to have the potential to appeal to a number of markets, including the United States. This is because it combines the ease of use of conventional-powered vehicles (ICE) with the ability to travel long distances using electricity.
In addition to EREV, the latest Santa Fe is expected to retain existing engine options, such as a 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder. In some markets, Hyundai is also likely to continue selling the 1.6-liter turbo hybrid engine that has been available.
For the design sector, there are no official details circulating, but considering the design style of the latest generation Santa Fe has reaped both pros and cons. Hyundai is believed to be preparing a strategic revision, especially at the back.
Development of the latest version of Santa Fe is currently still in the early stages. This SUV is expected to only enter the United States market in the 2027 model year.
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