How the 2026 Hyundai Palisade debut was delayed by the South Korean President
The new-generation Hyundai Palisade was due to launch this week, however larger events in its home country have indefinitely delayed its unveiling.
The Korean Car Blog reports the second-generation Palisade was scheduled to be unveiled on December 5, following camouflaged prototypes being spied across the last couple of years.
However, that day has come and gone, and it’s been reported we haven’t seen the new Palisade yet due to the political unrest currently occurring in South Korea.
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On the evening of December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing “anti-state forces”, which subsequently led to the nation’s military entering the National Assembly building.
After an emergency vote lifted the declaration, Mr Yoon ordered the army to withdraw, though he’s now facing impeachment and could soon be democratically removed as President.
With these political factors in play, Hyundai’s wise decision to reportedly delay the launch of the new Palisade means we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see the new large SUV.
However, we do already know most things about it, thanks to previous insider information and spy shots.
As reported in August, South Korean publication Autospy published images showing the Palisade wearing more revealing camouflage than previously seen, previewing vertically oriented headlights and tail lights which adopt the pixel-like style seen on the electric Ioniq 5.
This is different from the more complex light patterns seen on the new Santa Fe, however the Palisade looks to be following its fellow three-row SUV’s path of featuring increasingly boxy exterior bodywork.
Though Hyundai is yet to make any official announcements, reports from South Korea last year claimed the new Palisade will no longer be available with its existing 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and 3.8-litre V6 petrol engines.
The Korean Car Blog reports these will be replaced by a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid.
Reports have also suggested the Palisade is set to become even larger, providing more space for second- and third-row occupants.
Hyundai is also reportedly looking to increase Palisade production by 30 per cent.
Originally published as How the 2026 Hyundai Palisade debut was delayed by the South Korean President
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