Hyundai releases 2018 Santa Fe sketches

Hyundai has released new sketches of its fourth-generation Santa Fe that appear to suggest the flagship SUV will evolve into to a sleeker, sportier SUV and be inspired by the recently launched Kona.

Expected on sale in Australia around mid-2018, the large Mazda CX-9 rival is set to be released in Korea late next month.

Adopting slimmer front headlights that are integrated within the front grille, the next Santa Fe gets a large lower air intake to produce front-end styling that's far more striking than the current car's.

With large wheels, swollen wheel-arches and plenty of chrome detailing that extends to the front and rear skid plates, the Hyundai SUV borrows much from the Kona and, if the artist impressions are accurate, the next Santa Fe will be far sleeker than the current model.

Sharing the same platform as the Kia Sorento, the fourth-gen Hyundai SUV will grow in size and come with plenty of family-friendly tech including, unusually, a new alert system to remind you that your kids are in the vehicle before you leave the car.

Other new safety tech includes a long list of driver assistance systems such as rear cross traffic alert.

Initially, Hyundai Australia says it will not offer a V6 from launch. That's expected to come later.

Until then, customers are likely to have the choice of the same 147kW/441Nm 2.2-litre diesel combined with an eight-speed automatic.

Pricing has yet to be announced, but is expected to rise for the fourth-gen Korean SUV.