Hyundai Santa Fe facelift photographed completely undisguised

The photos, which seem like they were taken at a factory or holding yard, were first posted on the forums of the Korean motoring website Bobaedream and later reposted by Carscoops.

At the front, the updated Santa Fe features a revised grille with thinner, more three-dimensional chrome spears in the grille. Underneath this is a revised front bumper, which visually links the two side air intakes/fog light carriers.

Out the back, the bumper has been subtly revised with a little more scalloping than before. The updated car also features fog light units that have fake air vents carved into them, as well as squarer exhaust tips.

These changes marry up with photos taken in Australia, earlier this year, of a development vehicle. Although that car was extra wearing extensive cladding all around, many of the the visual changes noted above can be seen through its disguise.

Information trickling out from overseas sources indicate that Hyundai is preparing to launch an e-AWD variant of the Santa Fe, possibly as early as 2016.

This model would feature an internal combustion engine powering the front wheels, and an electric motor for the rear wheels.

The car seen here is a powered by a 3.3-litre V6. Currently the Santa Fe is sold in Australia with the choice of either 145kW/421Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel or a 141kW/242Nm 2.4-litre petrol engine. A 198kW/365Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is also available in some markets.