Today,
at the 2015 New York Auto Show, Hyundai
unveiled the third generation Tucson
crossover, bringing a sleek facelift, as well as advanced safety technologies
and improved fuel economy to the well-loved Korean crossover.
The Tucson was never
particularly aggressive looking, but not anymore, thanks to a very angle-heavy
makeover of the exterior. Along with a new hexagonal grill that matches the
current Hyundai design language, the crossover sports some sharp lines that
replace the curvy nature of the previous model’s look. New LED twin-projector
headlights and LED accents further the Tucson’s new, more serious demeanor.
Its
wheelbase — now both an inch long and wider — rides on 19-inch allow wheels for
the first time, featuring an asymmetrical spoke design. Twin bevel-cut chrome
exhaust tips and a standard rear spoiler round out the new appearance. In
short, we daresay that the Tucson
finally looks pretty cool.
Inside,
the interior offers a leather-wrapped instrument panel with extra-wide contours
to enhance the roomy feel. Hyundai
expects the sharper looking Tucson
to inspire some sportier driving, so its gone so far as to incorporate a
leather-stitched pad on the side of the center console to cushion the driver’s
right knee.
Touch
points in general have been upgraded with soft touch materials throughout the
cabin, which now has 31 cubic-feet of volume — a five cubic-f0ot increase from
the previous generation.
Powering
the renovated crossover are a pair of engines that have been optimized with a
focus on their fuel efficiency. The first engine, offered in the base model, is
a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with direct injection. This produces around 164
horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed through a six-speed
automatic that offers a manual shifting mode. Hyundai claims that this
engine, saddled in the front-wheel drive powertrain, nets a 26-mpg combined
fuel economy rating.
The
second engine, available in the Eco, Sport and Limited models, is a 1.6-liter
turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection. It cooks up 175 ponies and
195 lb-ft. Power goes to the wheels by way of a first-in-segment seven-speed
dual-clutch transmission. The end result is a 29-mpg combined fuel economy
rating, which is a five-mile improvement over the 2.4-liter turbo in the
outgoing Tuscon.
If
drivers need a little more all-weather control than the front-wheel drive
models offer, the Tucson
has an advanced all-wheel drive system that was developed in part by Magna
Powertrain. The system packs Active Cornering Control, which transfers torque
automatically to the wheels with the most traction. This is Hyundai’s
version of a torque-vectoring system that brakes the wheel inside of a turn to
reduce understeer. It also has hill start assist and downhill brake control to
help drivers out when the inclines and declines become a bit too treacherous.
The
chassis itself is, as stated before, an inch wider and 1.2-inches longer. It’s
also more rigid, made up of 50 percent advanced high-strength steel, whereas
the former model only used 18 percent. This means you can take turns a lot more
quickly and your smartphone-obsessed kids may never feel the difference — good
for you and them.
An
improved, motor-driven steering system has been incorporated to take advantage
of the suspension upgrades, offering more precise feedback. The motor-driven
system is more efficient than traditional hydraulic systems, reducing the
friction and the extra mechanical components that drag on the setup.
New
safety features come packed in the new Tucson, like automatic
emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure warning system, and
a new pack of sensors that monitor the space around the car. These sensors
result in a blind spot and cross-traffic alert system, plus all the usual handy
parking tools.
Hyundai’s updated crossover
will house the next generation of its BlueLink infotainment and car
connectivity technology. This allows drivers to remote start the car, as well
as do Google-powered destination searches and request roadside assistance.
There’s also a host of diagnostic information BlueLink can provide via its
remote app.
Specific
pricing hasn’t been released with the reveal, so we surmise it will stay near
the starting $21,650 MSRP of the outgoing model. Look for the new Tucson to show up on dealer
lots in July.
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