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New
Hyundai Sante Fe SUV: in US showrooms this summer. |
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APN,
12th January 2006.
Now with an optional third-row seat, more power and bigger
dimensions, the all-new 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe makes its North American debut
at the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS, public days from
14th to 22nd of January), before its US production starts in Q2 to hit
showrooms during summer 2006.
The 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
comes, like its first generation, with a unibody SUV
platform (all-new) and a choice of V6 powertrains. While official prices will
be announced nearer to launch date, the current 2006 Santa Fe prices start in
the US from $21,695 for the front wheel drive version with the 2.7-litre V6
engine ($23,195 with the 4WD system), up to $25,895 for the 3.5-litre V6
Limited version with the 4WD system)
As the first production vehicle designed at Hyundai’s
design center in Irvine, Calif., Hyundai
engineers benchmarked the world’s leading unibody SUVs, including the Lexus
RX, Acura MDX and Volvo XC90, getting the new
Santa Fe a step higher than its predecessor, with the best possible
combination of SUV
attributes and mid-size sedan
driving character.
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Santa
Fe will be available with a choice of two V6 engines. |
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Engines - Santa Fe will be available (US market,
check specs in different markets) with a choice of two V6 engines: the new
2.7-liter Mu (m) and the 3.3-liter Lambda (l),
both featuring all-aluminium construction.
The standard 2.7-liter V6 is upgraded for 2007 and
now includes Variable Valve Timing and a Variable Intake System to produce
more than 180 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. (244 Newton-metre) of torque
(preliminary estimates). This new 2.7-liter V6 produces more horsepower and
torque than its predecessor, with improved fuel economy.
The 3.3-liter Lambda V6 is lighter, more fuel
efficient and cleaner burning than the previous-generation Santa Fe 3.5-liter
V6, while producing an additional 30 horsepower. Preliminary output estimates
are more than 230 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. (298 Newton-metre) of torque.
Both powertrains are expected to meet ULEV emissions requirements.
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3rd-row
seat is split 50/50. Can be folded flat like the 60/40 2nd-row. |
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Gearboxes - The 2.7-liter V6 comes with a standard
five-speed manual transmission and is available with an optional four-speed
automatic, while the 3.3-liter V6 is mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox.
Drive system - The Santa Fe has a basic front-wheel
drive system, but it can be ordered with the electronically controlled
all-wheel-drive system which automatically routes power to the wheels offering
the best traction. A new driver-selectable AWD lock provides a fixed 50/50
torque split between front and rear wheels, which can improve traction in
certain conditions.
Safety - On the active and passive safety front,
Hyundai equips all Santa Fe trim levels with six standard airbags,
including side air curtains for all three rows of seats. The combination of
side and curtain airbags, which help protect the head and body during side
impacts, can reduce fatalities by more than 45 percent, according to the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Side curtain air protection is
optional on many other compact and even mid-size SUVs.
In addition, all Santa Fe trim levels come standard with
Electronic Stability Control (ESC). ESC (known with different names in
other brands, including ESP for Electronic Stability Program) compares the
driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual response. ESC then
brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed
in certain driving circumstances to help correct understeer or oversteer.
NHTSA studies show SUVs equipped with ESC experience 63
percent fewer fatalities in single-vehicle crashes. Santa Fe joins Tucson,
Sonata, Azera, and Entourage as vehicles in Hyundai’s growing lineup with
standard Electronic Stability Control.
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New
Santa Fe: 7 inches longer, 1 inch wider and almost 2 inches
taller. |
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Front and rear disc brakes are standard and are
coupled with a four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that
includes Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) to optimize brake
performance even with differing vehicle loading.
All seating positions feature three-point seatbelts and
adjustable head restraints. Front seat active head restraints help prevent
whiplash by automatically reducing the space between a front occupant’s head
and the head restraint during a rear collision. Santa Fe also features a
standard tire pressure monitoring system.
Based on its characteristics and equipment, Santa Fe is
expected to earn the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s
(NHTSA) top five-star crash test rating for front and side impacts.
Exterior - With its assertive styling, the all-new
Santa Fe exterior expresses the evolving face of the Hyundai brand. At 184.1
inches long, the new Santa Fe is about seven inches longer than its
predecessor, one inch wider and almost two inches taller. Its 2.9-inch wider
track – wider than Toyota Highlander or Ford
Explorer
– provides a strong stance, improved handling and increased interior room.
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New
Santa Fe (generation II, top), and the predecessor (gen. I,
bottom). |
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The 2007 Santa Fe shares an assertive front grille,
sculptured lines and detailed headlights with Hyundai’s
HCD9 Talus concept, which is also introduced at the 2006 NAIAS. For a more
aggressive appearance, Santa Fe SE and Limited models come with 18-inch alloy
wheels.
The 2007 Santa Fe is more aerodynamic than the previous
generation model, improving its drag coefficient from 0.39 to 0.37.
Interior - To get the best package-efficiency within
its dimensions, Hyundai developed the new generation of its crossover an
all-new platform that avoids the compromises inherent in typical mid-size
car/SUV platform sharing.
According to Hyundai, although the 2007 Santa Fe is 2.1
inches shorter than the Lexus RX330,
its first- and second-row seats have more head, leg, and shoulder room than
the RX, with enough room left over to allow an optional third-row seat not
available in the Lexus. In addition, the 2007 Santa Fe’s third-row seat
offers more legroom than the third-row seat in the
Acura MDX, Honda Pilot or Volvo XC90,
while matching the legroom of the much larger all-new Mercedes-Benz
GL-class SUV.
Santa Fe is Hyundai’s first SUV with optional
seven-passenger seating. According to Hyundai, forty percent of all SUV
customers want a third-row seat, which should significantly broaden Santa Fe’s
appeal.
The third-row seat is split 50/50 and can be folded
flat like the 60/40-split second-row seat. Total cargo volume is a
cavernous 79.4 cubic feet (2248 litres, or 2.248 cubic metre), with storage
for items of different sizes.
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New
Santa Fe (generation II, top), and the predecessor (gen. I,
bottom). |
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Hyundai claims even that by increasing the use of laminated
steel and improving body rigidity, Hyundai engineers reduced cabin noise to
the point that the 2007 Santa Fe is quieter than the Volvo XC90 at 60 mph.
Optional dual-zone climate controls for driver and front
seat passenger can add more tailored comfort, while the second- and third-row
passengers get extra comfort thanks to a rear fan switch, B-pillar mounted
adjustable vents and dual rear heating ducts.
Other convenience features include an optional power driver
seat with power lumbar support, steering wheel audio controls, trip computer,
heated side mirrors plus a windshield wiper de-icing system.
Platform - The second-generation Santa Fe rides on
an all-new, purpose-built unibody SUV platform with a 106.3-inch wheelbase
that is 3.2 inches longer than its predecessor. This chassis was specifically
designed to deliver more of the ride and handling balance that resonates with
crossover shoppers.
According to Hyundai figures, the 2007 Santa Fe achieves a
50-percent improvement in body bending rigidity over the prior model and is 59
percent stiffer than Toyota Highlander. This stiff body structure provides a
more refined sedan-like ride.
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New
Santa Fe dashboard (top), and the predecessor (gen. I, bottom). |
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Steering is by power-assisted rack-and-pinion
system.
Suspension - Santa Fe has MacPherson strut front and
multi-link rear suspension systems, with the all-new front suspension using an
increased caster angle to improve stability. All four wheels are controlled by
coil springs and fade-resistant gas-charged dampers, while front and rear
stabilizer bars help keep the vehicle flat during cornering.
Thanks to the new suspension geometry and wider track width
(which enables greater turn angles), Hyundai engineers tightened Santa Fe’s
turning circle by nearly two feet – a significant advantage in daily
driving.
From 1st to 2nd gen. - Since the
first-generation Santa Fe arrived to the US in 2000, more than 420,000 Santa
Fe’s have been sold. Hyundai will price the 2007 Santa Fe, with standard
Electronic Stability Control, six airbags, anti-whiplash active front head
restraints, tire pressure monitoring system, air conditioning, power windows,
power locks, heated power mirrors, cruise control, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player,
16-inch aluminium wheels, dual exhausts and roof rack... thousands of dollars
below a comparably-equipped Toyota Highlander.
US production - The 2007 Santa Fe will be built at
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing America (HMMA) in Montgomery, Ala., with some
early units also being produced at the company’s Ulsan, Korea plant. HMMA
currently produces the 2006 Hyundai Sonata, and with the launch of the all-new
Santa Fe, both vehicles will travel down the same assembly line. Production of
the Santa Fe is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2006, with
vehicles arriving in dealerships during summer. By the end of 2006, Hyundai
will manufacture more than half of its total U.S. sales volume in Alabama.
Lineup - The new Hyundai Santa Fe comes in three
trim levels: base GLS, sporty SE and premium Limited. The
seven-passenger Touring Package is available on SE and Limited trim levels.
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New
Santa Fe console (top), and the predecessor (gen. I, bottom). |
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Base GLS - Santa Fe GLS comes equipped
(standard, US) with a 2.7-liter V6 engine, five-speed manual transmission,
ESC, ABS with traction control system, alloy wheels, rocker panel moldings,
heated power side mirrors, power windows, power door locks, and remote keyless
entry.
A roof rack with easy-to-operate sliding cross rails is
also standard.
Inside are active front head restraints, dual front
airbags, front seat side-impact airbags plus side curtain airbags.
Other standard features include a tire pressure monitoring
system, cargo net, air conditioning and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel.
A four-speed SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission and Premium
Package, which includes a power tilt/slide glass sunroof and heated front
seats, are optional.
SE - The SE standard equipment adds a 3.3-liter
V6, five-speed SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels, power
driver seat with power lumbar support, electrochromic auto-dimming rearview
mirror with compass, front fog lights and steering wheel audio controls.
A Premium Package with a power tilt/slide glass
sunroof and heated front seats is optional.
The optional Ultimate Package includes the Premium
Package features, plus a rear seat entertainment system with an eight-inch LCD
monitor, AM/FM/CD-changer/MP3 audio system with subwoofer and external
amplifier, 115-volt power outlet and HomeLink®.
The SE Touring Package includes seven-passenger
seating with the fold-flat third-row seat, conversation mirror and
load-leveling rear suspension.
LIMITED - Santa Fe Limited comes standard with all
of the standard equipment found on the SE, plus leather seating surfaces,
heated front seats, dual zone automatic temperature control with outside
temperature display, HomeLink®, and carpeted cargo area trim panels. A chrome
grille and exterior door handles, as well as a bodycolor hatch spoiler,
further distinguish the Limited.
A tilt/slide glass sunroof is offered as a stand-alone
option.
The optional Ultimate Package includes a sunroof,
rear seat entertainment system with an eight-inch LCD monitor, an Infinity
AM/FM/CD-changer/MP3 audio system with subwoofer and external amplifier,
115-volt power outlet and power front passenger seat.
The Limited Touring Package adds seven-passenger seating,
conversation mirror and load-leveling rear suspension.
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