The South Korean automaker is gearing up for a full-on assault on the most important markets and some of its crucial segments with the likes of the refreshed i30 N and first-ever Ioniq 5 N, as well as the Tucson facelift and the fifth-gen Santa Fe mid-size crossover SUV.
Sure, some of them – like the refreshed Tucson and upcoming i30 N facelift – are still under wraps. Instead, we have only officially seen the 641-horsepower Ioniq 5 N battery-powered EV that wants to give Tesla's Model Y Performance a run for its zero-emissions money, plus the first pictures of the MX5 Hyundai Santa Fe.
So, we are still in the dark with many pieces of missing information. For example, some of us wonder why Hyundai made it look like the Ioniq 5 N tries to prove automakers still think only ICE-powered vehicles can be fun (the BEV makes noises and pretends it has a dual-clutch transmission, for example). Others are asking unanswered questions about the details, specifications, and tech goodies fitted inside the boxy-looking new Santa Fe. And a few may even be craving after a performance model dubbed Hyundai Santa Fe N. Wait, what?
As it turns out, everyone was profoundly mesmerized by the daringness of Hyundai's stylists, who made a radical switch from the sweeping lines of the previous four Santa Fe iterations to a boxy design that's more akin to body-on-frame tough SUVs rather than mid-size crossover models. Now, this Defender from South Korea is on everyone's minds – primarily for very positive reasons linked to the daring exterior treatment and bold, high-tech interior.
Even the imaginative realm of digital car content creators has taken notice, and the good folks over at the AutoYa info channel on YouTube have imagined the CGI looks of the unannounced and unreleased Santa Fe N performance CUV because they have ample experience with such digital projects. For example, this one comes hot on the heels of their dreamy 2025 Kia Telluride GT idea they envisioned with either turbo V6 or PHEV oomph.
According to the host, the hypothetical 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe N might, too, combine a gasoline mill with electric assistance and turn into a feisty plug-in hybrid model with more than 400 horsepower on tap. And the rugged yet sporty looks – presented by the channel's resident pixel master in a variety of colors (both inside and out) should be enough to pose a threat to respected mid-size sporty SUVs like the Ford Explorer ST or even the mighty 518-hp Land Rover Defender V8.
So, what do you think – should Hyundai dare and jump blindly into new Santa Fe territory to gain even more market exposure (especially in places like America), or is the all-new SUV better off thinking about rugged adventures and comfortable road trips and nothing else?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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