Hyundai’s new Tucson SUV will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
18 Feb 2015 | 3335 Views | By Darren Moss, Autocar UK
Hyundai’s new Tucson SUV will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The replacement for the current ix35, the Tucson is 4475mm long, 1850mm wide, 1645mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2670mm. Those dimensions make it longer, wider and lower than the outgoing ix35 (in Europe).
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Hyundai’s new Tucson SUV will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The replacement for the current ix35, the Tucson is 4475mm long, 1850mm wide, 1645mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2670mm. Those dimensions make it longer, wider and lower than the outgoing ix35 (in Europe).
Having retired the original Tucson in 2010 to make way for the ix35, Hyundai has now reversed that decision in the hope of making the Tucson a more global product.
The Tucson takes on a more rugged appearance than the ix35, and features Hyundai's prominent front grille design. A clear resemblance to the larger Santa Fe can be seen. Speaking to journalists in Berlin, Hyundai design boss Peter Schreyer said: "We tried to make an SUV, but make it bolder and stronger.
"When we do something like this of course we have in mind that it needs to be successful globally. It needs to be a good product, and then it can be successful in all markets."
Powering the new Nissan Qashqai rival will be two petrol and three diesel engines, all meeting Euro 6 emissions standards.
A 1.6-litre petrol engine is available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, producing 133bhp and 174bhp respectively.
The diesel line-up kicks off with a 1.7-litre unit with 113bhp and also includes two versions of the firm's 2.0-litre powerplant, available in a choice of 134bhp and 181bhp forms. The 2.0-litre option will also be available with four-wheel drive. Although Hyundai will showcase several of its mild-hybrid engine options in Geneva, officials say no hybrid option has yet been confirmed for the Tucson.
Transmission options include a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Hyundai says the Tucson, built on an all-new platform which will also be shared with the new Kia Sportage, offers a generous amount of interior space, with 513 litres of luggage capacity available with all the seats up – smaller than the outgoing ix35 but 83 litres more than the Nissan Qashqai.
Despite its larger interior dimensions, however, the new Tucson remains a strict five-seater.
Inside, buyers will get ventilated and heated seats, a powered tailgate, park assist and a new navigation system that is three times faster than the previous generation, according to Hyundai.
Safety features on the new model include autonomous emergency braking, lane assist, rear traffic alert, blindspot monitoring and a system that raises the bonnet in the event of a pedestrian collision.
Hyundai says it will build all European-bound Tucson models at its Czech Republic factory, although manufacturing for other global markets will be based in South Korea.
The Korean manufacturer says it has sold more than one million SUV models in Europe since the introduction of the Santa Fe in 2001.
Official pricing information for the new model has yet to be announced, but Hyundai officials have already confirmed it will be priced above the current ix35, which starts at £17,000 (Rs 16.73 lakh). In its first full year on sale, Hyundai expects to sell up to 20,000 units of the Tucson.