Hyundai Santa Fe updated

Hyundai has unveiled an updated Santa Fe overnight, ahead of its world debut at the Frankfurt show the week after next.

And the good news is the upgraded seven-seat SUV will be coming to Australia in the fourth quarter of this year with more gadgets and goodies than before – including the ability to steering, accelerate and brake itself.

Subtle changes to the vehicle's design include new front and rear fascias, along with the reworked LED daytime running lights at the front and newly designed brake light mouldings at the rear, also with a new-look LED design.

The large Korean-made SUV, which starts at $38,490 and tops out at $59,990 for the sporty SR model, will also benefit from minor interior updates. The cabin design appears identical to the current model but Hyundai says new materials will be offered to enhance its 'flagship' status.

Hyundai Australia's public relations manager Guido Schenken told motoring.com.au the Santa Fe's 'product enhancement' doesn't include any mechanical changes.

"The engines and transmissions will carryover," he explained, which means the 2.4-litre (141kW/242Nm) petrol engine and 2.2-litre (145kW/436Nm) turbo-diesel engine will remain. Six-speed auto and manual transmissions will also be retained.

Although Australian specification is still being worked out, Schenken said the array of advanced safety and driving aids were high on the list.

Some of the new technology being offered to European customers includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), radar cruise control and lane change assist, which mean the car can accelerate, brake and steer itself when necessary.

Blind sport detection, automatic high-beam headlights and rear-cross traffic alert are also available, the latter warning the driver of approaching cars when reversing.

After knocking Holden off its podium sales spot to become the third most popular brand in Australia so far in 2015, the company will be looking to finish off the year strongly with the arrival of the updated Santa Fe late in the year.

Hyundai's Santa Fe hasn't dominated the large SUV segment in the first eight months of 2015, in which the Toyota Prado (9779 sales) is the current king. Second place is owned by the Toyota Kluger (9231) and Jeep Grand Cherokee is in the third place (8219). But with 5035 sales so far, the Hyundai is still contributing to the company's recent sales increases.

Hyundai will also show off its new Android Auto smartphone connectivity for the Hyundai i40 at the Frankfurt show, but the Australian arm of the company says it doesn't expect the new software to begin featuring in local vehicles until 2016.

The real show-stopper at the Hyundai exhibit in Frankfurt – apart from a potential N performance version of the i30 hatch – will be the Vision G concept (pictured).

The large show coupe provides a sneak peak at the company's evolving Fluidic Sculpture design language and ups the ante in terms of luxury, potentially previewing a new luxo-coupe from the company.

The company is also set to reveal its mad video game concept, the Hyundai 2025 Vision GT concept, but this will only ever be a fantasy car.

Stay tuned for all the news from the 2015 Frankfurt motor show from mid-September.