- Tucson test ended dramatically after overheating front brakes destroyed both front tires.
- New compact SUV adopts rugged, boxy styling inspired by Hyundai’s larger Santa Fe.
- Cabin gains massive 17-inch screen, but Hyundai is committed to keeping physical controls.
Not every R&D test drive ends with a simple debrief. Some end with fire extinguishers and embarrassment. Hyundai’s next generation Tucson has been caught testing in the Austrian Alps, where a brutal brake torture test finished with smoking brakes, two blown front tires, and a prototype that wasn’t driving anywhere afterward.
Related: Redesigned Hyundai Tucson Spied Alongside The Current Model
The trouble started while Hyundai engineers were hauling a trailer up and down a mountain to evaluate the 2027 (or possibly, 2028MY) SUV’s braking performance, our spy photographer says. Unfortunately, the brakes appear to have wilted under the pressure. Thick smoke soon poured from one front corner before the overheated brake caught fire.
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Several support vehicles reportedly emptied their fire extinguishers onto the burning front brake, but the drama wasn’t over yet. The heat transferred into the wheels until both front tires burst one after the other, leaving the prototype stranded. If Hyundai wanted proof the brakes had reached operating temperature, it certainly got it.
Sante Fe Style Tips
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Fortunately, the mishap also gave us another good look at the 2027 Tucson, and there’s plenty more to discuss than its apparent talent for self-immolation. The redesigned crossover is shaping up to be a dramatic departure from today’s model, swapping its busy, almost sporty styling for a much tougher, boxier look inspired by the bigger Santa Fe. It seems Hyundai has decided squared-off is the new streamlined.
Inside, the changes are even bigger. Fresh spy shots reveal Hyundai’s latest dashboard design with a huge tablet-style infotainment display dominating the cabin. The setup looks similar to the one already introduced in the Grandeur luxury sedan and Ioniq 3, giving the Tucson a far more modern feel than its predecessor.
Big Screen And Real Buttons
The giant screen for the Pleos infotainment looks very smart, but there is some encouraging news for drivers who prefer old-style switches. Hyundai has recently acknowledged that customers still appreciate physical controls, and the Tucson will retain real buttons beyond those on the redesigned steering wheel. We can just about make out two twirlable knobs separated by a row of switches below the big display.
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Powertrain details remain under wraps, though revised gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options very similar to today’s are expected to feature, all with no more than four cylinders and a choice of front- and all-wheel drive. Rumors of a real Tucson N haven’t gone away either, though Hyundai has yet to confirm anything, and if it does have plans for a hero version, it definitely wants to sort those stoppers.
