Hyundai has released the first teaser image and some details of the next-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. The SUV, now in its fourth generation, will make its world debut next month before heading to the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The upcoming Santa Fe offers Hyundai’s latest active safety features under the Smart Sense technology umbrella. The industry-first Rear Occupant Alert monitors the rear seats to detect passengers and alerts the driver when leaving the car.

The Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning is now enhanced by an automated braking function. To avoid the risk of collision when reversing out of narrow spaces with limited visibility, the system warns the driver and applies the brakes automatically.

Other than the new safety features, not much have been revealed about the big SUV. From the sole image above, we can see a familiar Santa Fe silhouette that’s not just substantial in size, but appears strong. More than before in fact – the tornado line is a constant and straight crease starting from the headlamps and ending at the tail lamps. The outgoing car’s line rose from the front wheel arch and went upwards, recirculating at the rear door handle. I found that to be quite cool.

Spyshots seem to suggest that the Santa Fe will follow the unconventional front face of the Kona compact SUV – LED daytime running lights acting as ‘eyebrows’ to the main beams located slightly lower than usual. We’ll have to wait for the next episode of the Santa Fe teasers for that.

The Santa Fe is an important model for Hyundai, and not just because SUVs are red hot today. The series was launched in 2001, and Hyundai says that the model is the foundation of the company’s SUV credibility. The third-generation DM remains handsome till this day – read our throwback review of the big Hyundai from 2013.

GALLERY: Next-gen Hyundai Santa Fe spyshots