2010 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai has released the first images of the 2010 Santa Fe, a facelifted version of the second generation SUV launched more than three years ago. Just like hyundai-blog.com writes, the revised car comes with a wide array of improvements, including exterior, interior and powertrain enhancements. But let's take them one at a time.

First of all , the exterior. As you can see for yourselves, the cars come with a redesigned front bumper and new grille as well as with restyled taillamps and rear bumper housing the rear fog lamps. 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals and chromed door handles are all part of the new Santa Fe.

The interiors have been customized with new materials and new colors, including a leather-covered steering wheel and a couple of new functions such as smart key, start-stop button, large LCD screen connected to the parking assist system plus active headrests for improved safety.

As for the engines, the revised series will include four-cylinder diesel engines, 2.0- and 2.2-liter, both of them more focused on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions than their predecessors. The 2.0-liter powerplant develops 135 kW (181 horsepower) and 392 Nm of torque while the larger configuration produces 147 kW (197 hp) and 436 Nm of torque. Both engines are complying with Euro 5 emission ratings, the aforementioned source said.

In case you're one of the many Santa Fe fans, you won't be able to buy the facelifted version sooner than August this year, and this only if you're living in South Korea. However, other markets, including Europe and North America, are likely to get the car later this year.