Hyundai ix35: First Official Teaser Shots of Tucson's Replacement

The above photo along with three more shots that were published on the automaker's Korean website are Hyundai's teasers for the Tucson replacement that will be officially unveiled at the September 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. As speculated, the Tucson's successor will be called ix35 in Europe while the Korean-market model will bear the 'Tucson ix' moniker. No word yet on Hyundai's naming plans for the North American model.

While the cryptic teasers don't reveal anything about the new compact SUV's design, a set of spy photos depicting the ix35 totally undisguised (click here) confirm the company's claims that the production model carries over much of the sweeping styling of the 2009 Geneva Salon ix-onic concept study.

The Korean automaker said that the ix35, which will rival the Toyota RAV-4 and VW Tiguan, represents a major step forward for Hyundai in Europe as it is the firm's first SUV to be conceived and engineered in Europe at the company's Frankfurt-based design and technical centres.

The ix35 will be joined in Frankfurt by the facelifted Santa-Fe that benefits from a series of engineering and cosmetic enhancements. Detailed information on both models are to be announced by Hyundai closer to the Frankfurt Show opening.

Via: Hyundai , KDM Shots: Hyundai-blog