GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Tucson and i20 Coupe launched
Hyundai has pulled the wraps off its sporty i20 Coupe and its game-changing SUV – the TusconHyundai has resurrected the Tucson name and unveiled the replacement for the ix35 at the Geneva motor show.
Described as the "most important car" it will launch in 2015 the return of the familiar name is accompanied by Hyundai's new design language, new chassis architecture and new turbo petrol and diesel powertrains, plus new levels of connectivity.
Set to go on sale this July Hyundai's new mid-size SUV remains a five seater, unlike its bigger seven-seat brother, the Santa Fe.
Longer (+65mm), wider (+30mm) but lower (-35mm) than the ix35 the Tuscon is far more spacious than the car it replaces, with a useful 513 litres of luggage space when the rear seats are in place.
Offered in both all-wheel drive and front-drive variants the top-spec all-wheel drive Australian models will be powered by the choice of a new 130kW turbocharged 1.6-litre direct-injected petrol engine matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox or a range-topping 135kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with six-speed auto transmission.
An entry-level six-speed manual front-drive Tucson powered by 2.0-litre direct-injected naturally-aspirated petrol engine will also be retained.
Quality has been ramped up on the mid-size Korean SUV, with plenty of high-grade soft touch materials introduced. The Tucson will also be safer than ever with the introduction of new safety tech like autonomous braking, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot detection.
Pricing has yet to be confirmed in Australia for the Tucson, although other markets have seen a slight price rise over the outgoing ix35.
As well as the Tucson, Hyundai also unveiled a new three door i20 coupe that it says will help it win over younger, style-conscious customers.
Unfortunately, as motoring.com.au revealed back in December, it's unlikely it will reach our market as it's difficult to make a business case for a small coupe.
In Europe i20 Coupes are powered by four engines that kick off with a 62kW 1.2-litre petrol when it goes on sale at the end of this month.
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