2013 Hyundai ix35 Facelift spied

An undisguised photo of what appears to be a facelift for the 2013 Hyundai ix35 has appeared on a Korean site.

It’s not yet three years since the Hyundai ix35 was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 (although it had been seen in Korea earlier), but it looks like the compact SUV from Hyundai is getting a facelift for 2013.

The photo above shows an undisguised ix35 / Tucson snapped in Korea and shows a new, more confident nose, big statement grill and fog lights that looks like the might have been borrowed from the new i30.

The grill is fully integrated and looks a bit of a cross between Audi and the route Ford is going with its Aston Martin inspired noses on the next Fiesta and Mondeo.

But there’s no arguing that the big grill, bold fog lights and huge headlights give the ix35 a more upmarket look than the current model. We can’t see it, but we must assume Hyundai has had a similar play round the back of the facelifted ix35 with new lights and bumpers, probably a titivate inside an and engine and oily bit tweak or three.

The ix35 pictured is actually a fuel cell ix35 which Hyundai is busy developing, but the last time we saw it it looked just like the current ix35, so it’s unlikely this is just a titivate for the ix35 FCEV.

On this evidence it seems likely the 2013 facelift for the Hyundai ix35 will probably arrive at the Paris Motor Show in September.