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The Tucson will have a strong, sporty look enhanced by an upright silhouette and sleek character line, Hyundai said. The company released the sketch shown |
Hyundai will revive the Tucson name for the successor to the ix35 compact SUV, the brand's best-selling model in Europe.
The new-generation Tucson will debut at the Geneva auto show on March 3, Hyundai said in a statement.
Hyundai released a sketch that shows a sleeker, sportier model than the current ix35. The new model has a larger chrome-trimmed hexagonal grille, smaller, more angular wrap-around headlamps, and sharper, cleaner lines.
"Our new compact SUV will be a big step forward for the Hyundai brand globally. The all-new Tucson has a bold and athletic presence and a proud stance," Peter Schreyer, Hyundai's chief design officer, said in the statement.
Key model
The new Tucson is a key model for Hyundai as it aims to revive growth in important markets such as Europe and the United States where SUV sales are now strong. The Tucson is one of the brand's biggest sellers in China, the U.S. and South Korea, its top three markets.
Last year, Hyundai's market share fell one percentage point to 3.3 percent in Europe. Analysts said the company needs to offer customers more options in the SUV segment, which has become especially popular as oil prices plunged.
"The new model should help lift Hyundai sales, but market conditions are tough now. Differentiating the Tucson from the rest of the pack will be challenging," said Ryu Yen-wha, an analyst at IM Investment & Securities.
Hyundai launched the Tucson globally in 2005. It was renamed the ix35 in some markets, including Europe, in 2009.
Hyundai did not say why it is dropping the ix35 name but media reports said the brand wants the third-generation model to have the same name in all its markets.
The Tucson likely will arrive in showrooms in the second half.
European sales of the ix35 rose 5 percent to 93,507 in 2014, making it the No. 4 best-seller in the region's fast-growing compact SUV segment, according to data from JATO Dynamics.
Hyundai has seen its growth prospects clouded by declines in the ruble, which cuts its earnings from Russia, a major market, and by the weaker yen, which has helped Japanese rivals cut prices.
Reference: http://europe.autonews.com/article/20150203/ANE/150209970/hyundai-returns-to-the-tucson-name-for-ix35-successor
