Hyundai full-size crossover spied yet again, is it the Grandmaster?

MANILA:  The news of full-size Hyundai crossover that has been doing rounds on the Internet is not new to a lot of automobile enthusiasts out there. What’s interesting and unknown is the fact the spied car is none other than the Hyundai Grandmaster that was showcased earlier at the 2018 Busan International Motor Show as the HDC-2 concept.

The snapshots have significant resemblance with the HDC-2 concept which the company calls a three-row big crossover. Major design facets that indicate the Grandmaster and the spied car are same include the brand’s signature cascading grille, high-mounted LED headlamps and composite lamps placed on the bumper. Not just this, the side profile of the spied car has a kink just like the concept showcased at the motor show. What the spied version misses out on are the flared wheel arches and the trim piece of the third window from the concept.

The rear, on the other hand, is completely wrapped not letting us know what exactly is behind those covers. However, from the concept, it can be inferred that it would get a rounded-off tailgate with vertically-aligned tail lights flanked at the edges. Also, expect a tailgate-integrated spoiler as seen on the concept. It is important to note that the road-ready version would be a toned down variant of what was shown at the show.

After Veracruz, this seven-seater full-size SUV, tentatively known as the Grandmaster will be the second attempt by Hyundai to make a mark in the segment. The Veracruz was discontinued back in 2012. Based on its body structure, it is likely to compete against the names like the Dodge Durango, Mazda CX-9, Ford Explorer and the Honda Pilot. While the testing is currently on, we assume it to be officially released by the end of this year or early 2019. Stay tuned for more information.