Hyundai Tucson facelift under development

The Hyundai Tucson facelift prototype was spied recently undergoing winter testing in Scandinavia, where Hyundai is also working on a second facelift for the i40.

The 2019 Tucson is wearing a double layer of camouflage, so it's difficult to see the details. However, the aim of the facelift is to give the crossover a more rounded yet premium appearance. The new grille should mirror those of both the European i30 hatchback and the Sonata sedan, popular in America.

All-new headlights and taillights are being fitted plus some cladding around the front bumper so the car will receive the rugged yet high-tech look of the new Kona crossover. It's not all about exterior design, though, as the Tucson facelift is likely to bring several interior upgrades as well. The company recently announced plans for an Intelligent Personal Agent system, along with the lines of Alexa.

There's nothing suggesting any major changes on the engine front. The go-to unit for the American market will be the base 2-litre with 164bhp, followed by the more powerful 1.6-litre turbo with 175bhp and 264Nm of torque.

In Europe, the Tucson should continue to rely mainly on the 1.6 and 2.0 CRDi. Depending on the model, these will be hooked up to a manual, a twin-clutch or an automatic. Expect the updated Tucson to debut in July, at the Seoul Auto Salon 2018. However, global availability will take a little longer.