t will be Hyundai's biggest vehicle to date and rising gas prices won't stop its arrival. It's likely to be called the 2008 Hyundai Mesa and judging from our spy photos it will be more than just big, it will be one of the most upscale vehicles in the Korean automaker's lineup.

Designed to slot above the new 2007 Santa Fe, the Mesa will fit somewhere between most current mid- and full-size SUVs in terms of its size. The name debuted on an oversize Kia SUV concept at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, but Hyundai may pull rank on its partner company and use "Mesa" first.

Our fearless spy shooters measured the wheelbase of the prototype at 113.6 inches. That's nearly a foot longer than a Honda Pilot and only 3 inches shy of a Chevrolet Tahoe. So much space between the wheels should make for a decent amount of room between the three rows of seats while a more modest overall length of around 186 inches (Tahoe is 202 inches) will keep it garage-friendly.

Power will come from the same 3.8-liter V6 used in the Azera. It makes 263 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque in that application, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it tweaked for even more power in the Mesa. Coupled to a five-speed automatic, a 280-hp Mesa would be a solid performer. An on-demand all-wheel-drive system will be optional on this front-wheel-drive crossover.

Interior photos show a cabin design similar to the current Lexus RX 350 with large vertical vents framing a cascading center stack. Lexus uses metallic coloring to highlight its vents while Hyundai is going with the opposite color scheme by layering the entire stack with a metallic finish. To add even more color there's wood trim across the entire dash and slivers of chrome outlining the center console. The steering wheel also gets its share of metallic trim as well as a full array of satellite audio and climate control buttons.

Expect to see the official debut of this new Hyundai SUV later this year with U.S. sales beginning early next year.

http://www.edmunds.com/insidel...15343

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Other than the vertical air vents, the cars look different.

It'll be a nice complement to the new Santa Fe. In fact, I think it's pretty much just a stretched Santa Fe with a bigger engine and a nicer interior.

Hyundai needs to wake up and offer a Nav here. They offer Nav in Korea in even the Elantra for godsakes. And it's been out in Korea for almost 10 years. Don't know what the delay is here.

 

how about the gauges?

 

Did the RX pioneer the three pod gauges?

 

it looks much better when they simply copy it rather than design their own, so why not :-).

 

Kia and Hyundai have been rip off artists for some time. The horsepower is right near the MDX and the RX350/400h and I am impressed by the 3.8 L that is going into this thing.

 

Not really. They are virtually unique in the long warranties they offer, value per dollar, and the level of standard equipment their vehicles they have. And if they copy someone else's design once in a while, what is wrong with that, as long as it is a GOOD design to start with? Even Toyota and Honda do a little of that now and then....no auto company is completely immune from this.

 

I was referring to design. I don't really see any issue in copying and if one looks at the new Camry, they can see that BMW Bangle rear end.

The amazing thing is that Hyundai is catching up rapdily in quality.

 

Well, whatever the case is, this is the best Hyundai interior to date.

So... what is the target competition of this big SUV?