2020 Hyundai Palisade eight-passenger SUV sheds some camo in Arizona

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As big as they come

With Hyundai’s recent restructuring of the 2019 Santa Fe lineup, we’ve learned about the automaker’s plan to launch an eight-seater SUV rumored to get the Palisade name.

As a reminder, for the 2019 model year the five-passenger Santa Fe Sport becomes Santa Fe and the seven-passenger Santa Fe becomes Santa Fe XL. Hyundai won’t stop there and is currently developing an all-new eight-passenger SUV that will sit above the upcoming Santa Fe XL.

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We now get the best look yet at the massive SUV as our spy photographers caught it in Arizona with the front end thinly disguised. The images reveal a strong resemblance to the 2019 Santa Fe, especially when it comes to the shape of the headlights and the front grille.

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The Hyundai Palisade is co-developed with the Kia Telluride, another big SUV that is on its way.

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As with the 2019 Santa Fe, the eight-passenger SUV will use a new FWD-based platform that will offer optional all-wheel drive.

When it goes on sale sometime in 2019, the Hyundai Palisade may get a naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V6 gasoline engine with 290 horsepower on tap, mated to the latest Hyundai Powertech eight-speed automatic transmission.

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However, a twin-turbocharged version of the same engine also looks likely, especially since it develops 365 hp, which could prove more adequate for an SUV of the Palisade’s size. The 3.3-liter V6 turbo engine is currently offered in the Genesis G80 and G90 luxury sedans.

There is also the possibility of a plug-in hybrid powertrain similar to the one Kia showcased on the Telluride Concept in 2016. That study paired a 3.5-liter V6 engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 400 hp.

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When it launches next year, the Hyundai Palisade will target models like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition.

READ MORE: Kia Telluride Concept previews full-size SUV from the Korean brand