2009 LA Auto Show: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

1 Comment 03 December 2009

By Kevin Miller

12.03.2009

Hyundai’s second product launch at the LA Auto Show came today, when Hyundai Motor America’s President/CEO John Krafcik introduced the 2010 Hyundai Tucson small crossover. Although the Tucson was designed in Hyundai’s Frankfurt design studio, it employs the same stylish Fluidic Sculpture design themes as the 2011 Sonata, which was designed in Hyundai’s California studio.

This is only the second generation Tucson, but it is a huge step forward from the original, which debuted in 2005. Whereas the first-gen Tucson was boxy and clumsy looking, the new one has an appealing, emotional design. The shapely good looks continue inside of the Tucson, with such available features as heated leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, iPod/USB music interface and available touchscreen navigation system.

Much like the new Sonata, the Tucson is lighter, more powerful, and has better fuel economy than its predecessor. Eschewing a V6 engine, Hyundai’s new 176 HP, 2.4 liter Theta II GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) four-cylinder engine is used exclusively in the Tucson. Coupled with Hyundai’s new six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, it has more power than the outgoing optional V6. The new Tucson gets twenty percent better fuel economy than the old four cylinder in the outgoing vehicle with an EPA rating of 23/31 MPG which is better than its key rivals, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Production of the 2010 Tucson began in October at Hyundai’s factory in Ulsan, Korea. The vehicle’s arrival at dealers in imminent, with the an on sale date later this month (in time for Christmas). Base price of the new Tucson is “well under” $20,000.

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Your Comments

1 comment

Griffin says:

December 3, 2009 at 19:15

The hits keep coming over at Hyundai.

Hyundai is the new golden boy of the auto industry.

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