The exciting spyshots...

The exciting spyshots are of a new large Hyundai SUV, which aims to build on the success of the firm"s recently launched off-roader.

The Santa Fe"s blend of sharp styling, solid build and great practicality saw it named Auto Express"s Best 4x4 Recreational Vehicle for 2006 in our New Car Honours, and the firm has taken a similar approach with this larger offering.

While the front and rear are heavily disguised, the profile is exposed, revealing the swooping window line. Looking at the scale of the driver in the cabin, it"s clear this model is wider than the Santa Fe, while the wheelbase is significantly longer.

Hyundai currently has three all-wheel-drive models - the Tucson compact-SUV, RAV4-rivalling Santa Fe and rugged Terra-can. It"s the last of these which is most in need of replacement, but an all-new version isn"t scheduled until the end of 2008.

It"s not yet known whether the newcomer (pictured above) will share its platform with the next Terracan, as it has been developed specifically for North America. Although the Santa Fe is already available with seven seats, if there was sufficient demand for a Land Rover Discovery-sized model, there would be nothing to stop a big brother joining Hyundai"s UK family.

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