| All-New 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Debuts at North American International Auto Show
Hyundai's Second-Generation Santa Fe Tackles Toyota RAV4 and Highlander
The all-new 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe made its North American debut today at the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). With its segment-leading standard safety technologies, all-new unibody SUV platform, bold new styling, a choice of fuel-efficient V6 powertrains, and Hyundai's first SUV third-row seat, the Santa Fe becomes a "must-drive" for consumers shopping in the crossover segment.
As the first production vehicle designed at Hyundai's design center in Irvine, Calif., the Santa Fe is targeted to meet American consumers' demand for safety, style, sophistication and performance. Before designing it, however, Hyundai engineers benchmarked the world's leading unibody SUVs, including the Lexus RX, Acura MDX and Volvo XC90. The result is a more exciting and upscale Santa Fe that combines the best attributes of SUVs with the driving character of a mid-size sedan.
Hyundai packed the all-new Santa Fe with the industry's most effective safety technologies, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), anti-whiplash active head restraints and six airbags including side air curtains, which help protect occupants in all three rows during side impacts. 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.
CHOICE OF V6 ENGINES
Santa Fe will be available with a choice of two powerful and efficient V6 engines: the new 2.7-liter Mu (m) and the modern 3.3-liter Lambda (l), both featuring all-aluminum 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. 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. of torque. Both powertrains are expected to meet the stringent ULEV emissions requirements.
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. Meanwhile, Santa Fe's electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system 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.
SEGMENT-LEADING SAFETY
The all-new 2007 Santa Fe continues Hyundai's leadership in standardizing the industry's most effective safety technologies. The new Santa Fe features 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 compact and mid-size SUVs, including Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer.
In addition, all Santa Fe trim levels come standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), one of the industry's most effective life-saving technologies. ESC 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.
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