Hyundai is set to re-enter the Australian large car market next year with the reintroduction of its Grandeur sedan.
Previewed at the Sydney motor show, the new Grandeur will go up against rival sedans such as mid-spec Falcons and Commodores, Toyota's Avalon replacement, the new Mitsubishi 380 and Nissan Maxima. The re-entry signals Hyundai's desire to become a full line importer with models in virtually every segment.
The Grandeur last sold here was the first generation 141kW 3.0-litre V6 five-speed automatic but this was discontinued by Hyundai in early 2003. The company then took the decision not to import the second gen 3.5-litre car. In its first full year onsale, the Grandeur racked up just under 2000 sales, however, by 2002 that had fallen to just 423 units.
The new model, expected in the first half of next year, is likely to be powered by the 190kW 3.8-litre V6 as used in the US-spec, Azera. That car is FWD and uses a five-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai won't talk dollars but given its expected rivals' pricetags, we'd bank on a sticker somewhere in the $35,000-45,000 range.
Also new to the lineup and launched at Sydney is a front-wheel-drive version of Hyundai's compact five-seat SUV, the Tucson. Dubbed the Tucson City and developed specifically for the Australian market after some heavy lobbying by the local subsidiary, this two-wheel-drive model is identical in size to its AWD brethren but introduces a four-cylinder engine to the lineup.
With a 104kW/184Nm 2.0-litre engine mated to a tiptronic-style four-speed automatic transmission, the Tucson City also gives Hyundai a new entry-level price at $25,990 -- $4000 cheaper than the 129kW/241Nm 2.7-litre V6 AWD model.
Designed to offer the high riding, flexible and spacious interior of an SUV without the added weight and fuel consumption of a four-wheel drive, the Tucson City is aimed at buyers of small wagons like the Toyota Corolla and Holden Astra.
Weighing in at 1467kg, the City is 158kg lighter than the AWD Tucson which combined with its four cylinder engine offers an official combined fuel consumption of 9.2l/100km versus the V6's 11.0/l/100km.
In addition to the lack of AWD badging, the City also eschews the Tucson AWD's body cladding for a cleaner urban-orientated look. Inside it still offers a versatile seating arrangement with flat folding split rear seats and an abundance of storage cubbies.
Apart from the engine and no rear differential, the only other mechanical differences to the AWD version are a slightly redesigned and retuned rear suspension. Safety kit includes anti-lock brakes, traction control and dual front airbags.
Hyundai also used the Sydney show to launch its mid-life upgrade to its small Getz hatch. From the outside, only ardent car spotters are likely to notice any significant differences with minor front and rear modifications.
But under the bonnet, both single cam and twin cam versions of Hyundai's Alpha four-cylinder engine gain from a 100cc increase in capacity. The single cam 1.4-litre three-door Getz gains an extra 7kW and 9Nm to 70kW/126Nm while the now 1.6-litre twin cam engine in the three or five door models produces 78kW and 144Nm - up from the 1.5-litre unit's 74kW/133Nm.
The five-speed manual gearbox has also been upgraded and the damping retuned.
Apart from the performance improvements, Hyundai was crowing loudly about its safety upgrade claiming the standard anti-lock brakes on 1.6-litre models make the $14,490 three-door 1.6 Getz the cheapest car on the market with standard ABS on four discs. Inside, all Getz models also benefit from active head restraints and dual front airbags.
Price-wise, the entry level 1.4 manual-only three-door remains the same as the previous model at $13,490 as does the top of the range manual five-door 1.6 at $15,490. Only the mid range 1.6 three-door has gone up, attracting a $500 premium over its predecessor.