Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson news, pictures, and information
Hyundai unveiled its all-new 2005 Tucson SUV on February 4, 2004 during media days at the 96th annual Chicago Auto Show. The name Tucson continues the tradition of Southwestern themed titles for Hyundai’s sports utility vehicles, and goes on sale in the fall of 2004. Standard engine is a 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine, with an optional 2.7-liter DOHC V6 available in the US market. Tucson will be offered in both front-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive configurations; is Hyundai’s first entry into the small SUV segment and is smaller than the hot-selling Santa Fe SUV.

Source - Hyundai Media
Chicago, February 4, 2004 ... Continuing to expand its model line in the United States, Hyundai today introduced the Tucson sport utility vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The vehicle is the company’s first entry into the small SUV segment. The Tucson is smaller than Hyundai’s hot-selling Santa Fe SUV and will go on sale late this summer in the United States.

"The new Hyundai Tucson is a value-packed SUV that will complement the buyers' active lifestyles," said Hyundai Motor America President and CEO Robert F. Cosmai. "Tucson has all the features buyers have come to expect from Hyundai and it’s covered by America’s Best Warranty, The Hyundai Advantage, which includes the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty."

The four-door Tucson is the second Hyundai sport utility vehicle to be named after a city in the southwestern U.S.

Tucson styling provides a masculine, athletic appearance and delivers lots of utility. As Hyundai’s newest SUV, the Tucson is designed to be a versatile companion to the buyer’s lifestyle and to provide the best value in the marketplace in equipment, style, image and value.

The Tucson features a spacious, well-configured interior that provides lots of room and comfort for the driver and passengers and all their cargo. The Tucson also provides a large, versatile and durable cargo area with fold-flat rear seats and folding front passenger seat. The seat can be folded forward to provide extra storage room or a workspace for the driver. It can also be fully reclined as a seat. The rear mat is removable and exposes a durable, easy-to-clean plastic floor with multiple tie-down locations for everyone’s gear.

Since January 2003, all Hyundai vehicles manufactured for sale in the U.S. are fitted with side-impact airbags as standard equipment. The Tucson carries on this tradition of safety. The Tucson is equipped with a total of six airbags; driver and passenger front airbags, driver and passenger side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags for both front and rear seat occupants.

Tucson buyers can select from two engines. The base model GL features Hyundai’s proven 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine fitted with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) matched to a 5-speed manual transmission or available Shiftronic automatic transmission. Hyundai’s 2.7-liter DOHC V6 is standard on the GLS and LX models and it is matched to the Shiftronic automatic transmission. The 2.7-liter V6 as used in the Tucson is fitted with a variable length, tuned intake system for smoother delivery of power across the entire rev band. Four-wheel-drive is available with either engine.

Tucson uses the state-of-the-art Borg-Warner Electronic InterActive Torque Management four-wheel-drive system that routes up to 99 percent of the available power to the front wheels. As road conditions or torque demand changes, the system automatically diverts up to 50 percent of the available power to the rear wheels. The system monitors throttle position, front wheel angle and slippage.

As surface conditions change, power is automatically routed to the wheels with the best traction. There is also a dashboard-mounted 4WD lock button that allows the driver to manually "lock" the driveline into 4WD for a 50/50 torque split.

Standard features on the Tucson include: four-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the driver and front seat passenger, side-impact protection (side curtain airbags) for the front seat and rear-seat passengers and remote keyless entry alarm system. Additional standard features include: heated outside rear view mirrors, front windshield de-icer (V6 only), tinted glass, roof rack side rails, rear intermittent wiper, tire pressure warning system (V6 only), AM/FM/CD stereo system with six speakers and more.

Available features include leather seating surfaces, anti-lock brakes and ABS with traction control. A power sunroof with tilt is also available along with front-seat warmers, fog lamps, remote keyless entry with alarm, AM/FM/Cassette/MP3 with six speakers (standard on GLS), AM/FM/Cassette/CDC with six speakers and woofer (standard on LX), roof rack cross rails and rear privacy glass.

The new Hyundai Tucson is designed to compete with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander. It is expected to be on sale later in 2004 as a 2005 model.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed in the U.S. by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 625 dealers nationwide.

Source - Hyundai Media
HYUNDAI — AN OVERVIEW
Hyundai’s 2004 cars and sport utility vehicles continue to provide customers a high level of content and performance at an affordable price. Every vehicle in the lineup demonstrates Hyundai’s emergence as an auto manufacturer whose products compete successfully in technology, quality, styling and refinement with automobiles from around the world.

Hyundai sold its first car, the subcompact Excel model, in the U.S. in 1986. At the time, few Americans had ever heard of Hyundai or its products. Since that time, Hyundai has expanded and upgraded its product line in the U.S. and now accounts for more than two percent of the U.S. auto market.

Hyundai now markets a full line of vehicles from the subcompact Accent to the award-winning Santa Fe sport utility vehicle to the luxurious XG350 sedan. The vehicles were developed exclusively by Hyundai Motor Company and are fitted with engines and transmissions designed and engineered by Hyundai.

Hyundai Motor Company
The Hyundai Motor Company was founded in 1947 as Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. by the late Ju-Yung Chung. Hyundai Motor Company, established in 1967, is the auto sales leader in the Korean domestic market and exports vehicles to 190 countries worldwide.

Hyundai Motor Company operates the world’s largest integrated automobile manufacturing facility in Ulsan, on Korea’s southeast coast. In 1996, Hyundai opened the Namyang Technology Research Center, which includes a complete testing facility with a 2.8-mile oval test track and a new $40 million aeroacoustic wind tunnel. That same year, 1996, HMC began production at its state-of-the-art Asan Plant, located southeast of Seoul.

Hyundai now operates eight research centers in Korea and with four international centers, including Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Mich., and the Hyundai/Kia Design and Technical Center in Irvine, Calif. Hyundai’s automotive technology centers employ approximately 4,100 researchers with an annual budget of five percent of current revenues. Current research projects include: electric-powered vehicles, low-emission gasoline engines, solar-powered vehicles, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles.

The Hyundai California Design Center, now part of the Hyundai/Kia Design and Technical Center, was established in 1990 and creates and develops both production vehicles and cutting-edge design concepts for the automotive market. Several innovative vehicles have emerged from the design center, including three concept roadsters, HCD-I, HCD-II, HCD-6, a hybrid sport utility vehicle HCD-III, The CrossTour sport utility vehicle (HCD-5), the HCD7 luxury sedan and the HCD8 sports tourer. The influence of the California Design Center can be clearly seen in the sleek lines of the first-generation Hyundai Tiburon sporty coupe and the Santa Fe sport utility vehicle.

A Look Back — Hyundai’s Entry into the U.S. Market
The timing of Hyundai’s entry into the U.S. market in 1986 was ideal. At that time, most automobile manufacturers had abandoned the entry-level market in favor of high-end, high-priced vehicles and that left a large void. First-time car buyers such as college students and young families were not able to find adequate, value-equipped cars that met their needs yet were priced within their economic means.

In February 1986, Hyundai launched its subcompact Excel model in the U.S. market. Customer response was immediate; in just seven months, Hyundai Motor America had sold its 100,000th Excel. Total 1986 sales numbered 168,882 — an industry record for an import car distributor in its first year.

Hyundai sales averaged 1,431 units per dealer, another sales record. In 1987, Hyundai sales continued to soar reaching a record 263,610 units.

What makes this sales performance all the more remarkable is that it was done with dealers in only 31 of the 50 states. In the early years, Hyundai concentrated its sales efforts primarily on the West and East Coasts, and in the southern states. In 1987, Hyundai expanded into the central portion of the United States, opening a central region office near Chicago. Today, there are four regions and more than 625 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.

Expanding the Product Line
Hyundai took a major step to becoming a full-line automotive importer/distributor in 1989 with the introduction of its midsize sedan, the Sonata. This roomy, powerful, front-wheel-drive sedan expanded Hyundai’s appeal to more mature, family-oriented buyers. It also offered current Excel owners an opportunity to move up within the Hyundai product line.

In 1995, the Sonata was completely redesigned. It incorporated state-of-the-art technology that moved it up the scale in the midsize sedan segment. In 1999, the third-generation Sonata was introduced with the company’s first all-aluminum V6 engine, double wishbone front suspension and standard equipment side-impact air bags. For 2002, the Sonata was revised with new exterior styling and a 2.7-liter DOHC V6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual shift control.

Scoupe
Hyundai’s third entry into the U.S. market was the sporty Scoupe, introduced in the summer of 1990 as a 1991 model. The Scoupe featured the Alpha engine — the first powerplant designed, engineered and manufactured exclusively by Hyundai. With its 2 + 2 configuration and bright array of colors, the Scoupe added a youthful, exciting touch to the Hyundai product line. The last model year for the Scoupe was 1995.

Accent
In 1995, after 10 years in the U.S. market, the Excel was replaced by the all-new subcompact Accent. With the Accent, Hyundai offered customers high-tech sophistication and features but an entry-level price.

For model year 2000, the Accent was redesigned to offer buyers even more value and quality. For 2001 Accent GS and GL models were upgraded to the powerful 1.6-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine. In 2002 the GS and GL models were fitted with air conditioning as standard equipment.

For the 2003 model year, the Accent was extensively revised with new front fenders, hood, bumper, fascia and headlamp assemblies. The rear deck, tail lamps and bumper were also revised. The GT package, with revised sport suspension and a 14-inch wheel and tire package, was reintroduced in 2003. The sophisticated 1.6-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine is now standard equipment in all Accent models.

Since January, 2003 every Accent built for sale in the U.S. is equipped with driver and front passenger side-impact airbags as standard equipment.

For 2004, the exciting Hyundai Accent receives only minor changes — the Accent GT 3-door became a model instead of a trim package — and continues to be the value leader in the entry-level class.

Elantra
The compact Elantra sedan debuted in 1991 as a 1992 model. It quickly became Hyundai’s best-selling model in the U.S. Elantra was redesigned in the 1997 model year and a station wagon version was introduced. Elantra captured the Hyundai sales record in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. For the 2001 model year, Hyundai introduced the all-new third-generation Elantra with a longer wheelbase, a roomier cabin and even more refinements.

Side-impact air bags were also made standard on 2001 Elantra models, making them the first cars in their segment to offer side-impact airbags as standard equipment.

For 2002, there were two Elantra models offered — the Elantra GLS 4-door sedan and the new sporty Elantra GT 5-door hatchback. In 2003, the new Elantra GT 4-door joined the lineup.

There are extensive changes for 2004, including both exterior and interior styling and a significant engine enhancements. The hood, grill, front bumper, headlamp assembly, rear bumper and tail lamp assembly are all new for 2004. Interior upgrades include a new instrument cluster, new vents and controls, new center console, new HVAC controls and more.

In addition, for 2004, the 2.0-liter DOHC engine is fitted with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and is available in SULEV and ULEV configuration, depending on the states in which it is sold. The Elantra GT models feature a long list of standard equipment that includes sport-tuned suspension, alloy wheels, leather seating surfaces, front air dam with foglamps and handsome rear spoilers.

Tiburon
In 1997 Hyundai replaced the Scoupe with the exciting Tiburon sporty coupe. Based on the HCD-I and HCD-II concept cars, Tiburon combined sleek, eye-catching styling with outstanding performance and handling.

The Tiburon’s performance lives up to its sporty styling. Competing in the tough Michelin SCCA Pro Rally series, a specially prepared Hyundai Tiburon, driven by Paul Choiniere and Mark Higgins (who joined the team for the 2002 season), won the Manufacturer’s Championship in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and again in 2002. In 1997, Choiniere captured the Driver’s Championship and he also piloted the Tiburon on its winning run up Pike’s Peak in the annual Pike’s Peak Open “Race to the Clouds.”

The Tiburon was extensively revised in 2000 with revamped front, rear and interior styling. There was no 2002 model Tiburon. The 2001 model was sold until the spring of 2002 when it was replaced by the exciting all-new 2003 Tiburon. The new Tiburon GTV6 model offered some exciting new features — a V6 engine, 6-speed manual transmission and a high-performance 17-inch wheel and tire package. For 2004, the Tiburon received only minor interior trim changes and simplified packaging.

Two New Vehicles
In the fall of 2000, Hyundai Motor America added two new vehicles to its lineup: the Santa Fe sport utility vehicle and the XG300 sedan. The Santa Fe is a car-based crossover vehicle that provides car-like ride and handling with the seating position and utility of a sport utility vehicle.

The Santa Fe was an instant hit with consumers and for the first time in many years Hyundai dealers were taking orders and putting customer’s names on waiting lists. For 2002, the Santa Fe received minor refinements and upgrades.

In mid-2002, the Santa Fe was again upgraded with a revised center stack design with relocated clock, larger air conditioning vents and a power sliding moonroof option.

For 2003, driver and passenger side-impact airbags were added as standard equipment on the Santa Fe. Then, near the end of the 2003 model year, the Santa Fe 3.5-liter was introduced with the 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual shift control and an available electronic 4WD system from Borg-Warner. For 2004, there are only minimal changes and upgrades to the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The XG300 was a hit as well, selling well above the projected numbers. For 2002, the engine displacement of the XG300 moved from 3.0 liters up to 3.5 liters, resulting in the name change from XG300 to XG350. For 2003, changes to the XG350 included a new instrument panel design and new trip computer display. The 2004 XG was extensively revised and went on sale in July of 2003. Both front and rear styling was changed for 2004 and the front disc brake rotor diameter was increased as well. The XG350L now features a new 12-spoke design alloy road wheel and all XG350 models are fitted with a full-size spare tire mounted on matching alloy wheel. There are also many interior enhancements for the 2004 Hyundai XG350 to make it even more luxurious.

2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON
Hyundai unveiled the 2005 Tucson sport utility vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2004. The Tucson is a car-based SUV that is smaller than the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.

Tucson is available in three trim levels: GL, GLS and LX, and in two configurations: front-wheel-drive and 4WD. There are two engines available — the proven 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder fitted with Continously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and the 2.7-liter DOHC V6. The 4-cylinder engine can be matched to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission. The V6 is matched to the 4-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission. 4WD is available with either engine selection.

4WD Tucson models are fitted with a sophisticated Borg-Warner electronic all-wheel-drive system that automatically engages the rear wheels when necessary. When the electronic sensing components determine the need for 4WD, it is engaged automatically. There is also a dashboard-mounted 4WD lock button that allows the driver to manually “lock” the driveline in 4WD for a 50/50 torque split.

FACILITIES
As the presence of Hyundai automobiles and Hyundai Motor America continued to grow in America, the company began to expand its operations and service networks nationwide to more effectively serve the needs of dealers and customers. In 1988, HMA opened a $21 million, 300,000 square-foot parts distribution center in Ontario, Calif., to facilitate parts deliveries to Hyundai’s expanding dealer body. The next year, HMA opened a $16.6 million, 342,000 square-foot office complex and parts distribution center in Aurora, Ill.

Today, Hyundai also has regional offices in Jamesburg, N.J., Austell, Ga., and Aurora, Ill. In addition, the New Jersey facility also incorporates a parts distribution center.

In 1990, Hyundai Motor America moved its national headquarters from Garden Grove, Calif., to a new 18-acre site in nearby Fountain Valley, Calif. — an investment of $18 million. In addition to corporate offices, this facility also houses HMA’s Western regional office, the National Service Center and the National Headquarters of Hyundai Motor Finance Company.

HMFC, launched in 1990 with a capital investment of $15 million and 22 employees, now employs nearly 200 people and has accumulated a portfolio of nearly $500 million. Hyundai Motor Finance Co. serves Hyundai dealers nationwide with individual customer financing and dealer inventory financing.

Also in 1990, HMA opened a $12.2 million port facility in Portland, Ore. It features a large dock area, a 45,000 square-foot processing building, a holding lot for incoming cars and an area for rail car and vehicle transport. Other Hyundai port facilities are located in Wilmington, Calif., Brunswick, Ga., Newark, N.J., Baltimore, Md., and Fort Worth, Texas.

A new corporation called HK Logistics America (HKLA), formed in March 2003, is now responsible for all vehicle logistics management for Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America in the U.S. HKLA is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has 11 port operations (nine water ports and two inland processing centers) located in eight U.S. states.

In April of 2002, Hyundai broke ground in Montgomery, Ala., for its first U.S. automobile assembly plant, a $1 billion investment scheduled to open in 2005 and employ nearly 2,000 people. When running at full capacity, the plant is expected to assemble 300,000 vehicles per year.

The first two vehicles scheduled to be produced in the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) assembly plant are the revised Sonata and Santa Fe models.

In addition, the new $25 million Hyundai/Kia Design and Technical Center in Irvine, Calif., opened in early 2003. Also in early 2003, a ceremonial groundbreaking event was held for the new Hyundai/Kia Proving Ground in the California desert near Edwards Air Force Base. This facility is scheduled to be constructed in the next two years.

After 18 years in the U.S. automobile market, Hyundai continues to reinforce its commitment to sell innovative, high-quality vehicles at the most affordable prices.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 625 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.

Source - Hyundai Media