2004 Hyundai Santa Fe

December 30, 2003 -- Fountain Valley, CA -- Hyundai's Award Winning SUV Now Available with 3.5-Liter Engine, 5-Speed Shiftronic Automatic Transmission and New Electronic 4WD System

The hot-selling Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle got even more popular this summer with the addition of the 3.5-liter V6 engine. The Santa Fe 3.5-liter was introduced late in the 2003 model year. For 2004, the 3.5-liter engine is now standard on the LX model (where it replaces the 2.7-liter V6) and is available on the GLS model.

All Santa Fe 3.5-liter models include the 3.5-liter V6 engine, smooth-shifting 5-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission and ABS with traction control. Customers who select available 4WD with the 3.5-liter will also benefit from a new, state-of-the-art electronic 4WD system.

3.5-Liter Engine And 5-Speed Automatic Transmission

Hyundai's proven Sigma 3.5-liter engine is rated at 200 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and delivers 219 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 RPM. This sophisticated engine, which features a strong cast-iron block and multi-valve aluminum cylinder heads, is also used in the luxurious Hyundai XG350 sedan.

The 3.5-liter engine is matched to Hyundai's 5-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission. This electronically controlled transmission offers drivers the choice of leaving the lever in Drive or moving the lever to the right gate for manual control.

The transmission features fuzzy logic and is fully adaptive, so it "learns" a driver's preferences and matches them. Fuzzy logic is also helpful when driving in situations with elevation changes.

New Electronic 4WD System

The advanced electronic 4WD system available with the Santa Fe 3.5-liter was designed by Borg-Warner and features InterActive Torque Management (ITM). When the system senses that the front wheels are slipping, it automatically transfers power to the rear wheels. When the front wheels are no longer slipping, power to the rear wheels is reduced or eliminated. This electronic system manages power between the front and rear wheels for maximum vehicle traction and fuel economy.

The ITM system consists of three sections in one compact, lightweight package; there is the actuating section, the torque transmitting section and the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The unit is mounted in front of the rear differential on the Santa Fe. The ECU receives signals from sensors and monitors wheel speed, throttle position and steering angle.

When the ECU senses the need for additional torque at the rear wheels, it sends a signal to the actuating section which causes the multiple wet clutches to compress and send torque to the rear axle. The system is automatic; there are no buttons to push or levers to move -- 4WD traction is there whenever the driver needs it.

The Santa Fe 3.5-liter also features specially tuned spring rates and shock absorbers. In addition, the rear suspension of the Santa Fe has been modified slightly to accommodate the ITM 4WD system installation.

Key Changes

At the start of the 2003 model year, the Santa Fe was upgraded to include driver and front passenger side impact airbags as standard equipment. New Monsoon stereo systems were added for the GLS and LX models and the HomeLink system was added as standard equipment on the LX model.

Other changes to the Santa Fe were completed in the middle of the 2002 model year. Those enhancements included a revised dashboard center stack, larger air conditioning vents, improved map light and overhead console design and an optional power sliding moonroof.

Also added: illuminated power window switches, illuminated glove box interior, gas-charged struts that make it easier to raise the hood, a revised, easier-to-use seat recliner and folding mechanism, two outboard ISOFIX child seat anchors, chrome PRNDL (gear selector) surround and shift lever button (GLS and LX only) and chrome inside door handles and parking brake knob.

Taking care of all the details-- large and small -- increases customer satisfaction. These continuing refinements and changes are just part of Hyundai's ongoing efforts designed to provide even more quality, value and comfort for their customers.

Listening To Santa Fe Buyers

"Santa Fe buyers are very clear about what they want in their vehicle. We listen to their suggestions and incorporate them when possible," said Robert Cosmai, acting president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "Many of the changes that our customers suggested are now included in the Santa Fe. When Santa Fe buyers told us they wanted a power moonroof, we listened. A power moonroof is now available. And now we are offering the Santa Fe 3.5-liter. We intend to keep meeting the needs of our customers and keep Santa Fe the value leader in its class," Cosmai added.

An Award Winner

The Hyundai Santa Fe has twice been named the best midsize sport utility vehicle in the prestigious AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Survey (VSS).

The Santa Fe was the first Korean-badged vehicle to ever win the award when it topped the list in 2001. For 2002, the Santa Fe again finished first, tied for top honors with the Toyota Highlander.

In 2001, 2002 and 2003 the Hyundai Santa Fe received the Total Value Award from Strategic Vision for offering owners the "Best Small Sport Utility Ownership Experience." The Hyundai Santa Fe also received the Strategic Vision Total Quality Award in 2001 & 2003.

A Long List Of Standard Features

Santa Fe is available in three models; Santa Fe, Santa Fe GLS and Santa Fe LX. All Santa Fe models offer a long list of standard features including air conditioning, 16-inch wheels and tires, privacy glass and four-wheel disc brakes. Power door locks, body-color mirrors and body-color door handles are standard (Santa Fe and Santa Fe GLS, chrome on Santa Fe LX) and the base Santa Fe is equipped with handsome side cladding and a stereo system that includes a CD player and 6 speakers with two front tweeters for a richer sound quality.

GLS and LX buyers can enjoy the sounds of the standard Monsoon stereo systems. The GLS is fitted with a Monsoon AM/FM 218-watt stereo cassette & CD system. The Santa Fe LX is fitted with a Monsoon AM/FM 218-watt stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD changer. Standard equipment for the top-of-the-line Santa Fe LX also includes ABS with traction control, leather seating surfaces with heated front seats, fully automatic temperature control, and electrochromic auto-dimming inside rear view mirror with HomeLink.

Car-Like Ride And Handling

The Hyundai Santa Fe is the first sport utility vehicle designed, engineered and manufactured by Hyundai Motor Company specifically for the North American market.

The Hyundai SUV, which is built on an extensively revised version of the Sonata midsize car platform, offers buyers the highly desirable combination of car-like ride, handling, NVH, steering and braking along with traditional SUV seating height, utility and styling. Buyers have a choice of all-wheel-drive systems; Hyundai's available mechanical Fulltime 4WD and now the available electronic 4WD described in the Santa Fe 3.5-liter section.

The base engine is Hyundai's proven 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder rated at 138 horsepower. The first optional V6 is a 2.7-liter DOHC Hyundai V6. This high-tech, all-aluminum, 24-valve, DOHC V6 engine is rated at 173 horsepower. The second engine option is the Santa Fe 3.5-liter which is also a sophisticated DOHC V6. This engine is rated at 200 horsepower.

A smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission is standard with the four-cylinder engine, while the 2.7-liter V6 is matched with a 4-speed version of Hyundai's Shiftronic automatic transmission. The 3.5-liter V6 is fitted with a 5-speed version of the Shiftronic automatic transmission.

When the 2.7-liter Santa Fe is equipped with Fulltime 4WD, power is transmitted to the wheels through a four-wheel-drive system via the Dual Drive Differential that features two planetary gears and a viscous coupling.

The Fulltime 4WD system is designed to deliver 60 percent of the power to the front wheels and 40 percent to the rear wheels. This 4WD system, designed for Hyundai by Steyr-Puch, is driver-friendly and fully automatic; the mechanical Fulltime 4WD system requires no input from the driver.

The Santa Fe has MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. At the rear is a fully independent trailing-arm design with multi-links, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. Rack-and-pinion power steering is standard.

With strong character lines over the front and rear wheel wells, the Santa Fe has a handsome and distinctive look in a market that is crowded with "me-too" designs.

The standard 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels fitted with 225/70R-16 tires give the Santa Fe an aggressive stance.

Designed to meet the driving demands of sophisticated SUV buyers, the Santa Fe is engineered to have smooth, car-like ride and handling yet still provides excellent capabilities in poor weather and limited-traction conditions.

Interior And Safety

With 101 cubic feet of passenger volume plus 30 cubic feet of cargo volume, the Santa Fe is spacious, flexible and comfortable.

The Santa Fe has important safety features including driver and front passenger side-impact airbags. The front seat belts also come with automatic pretensioners to cinch the belt tightly in the event of a collision.

Comfort And Convenience

On selected models, Santa Fe offers comfort, convenience and luxury features not usually found in the class. Available features include auto-dimming inside rear view mirror, brushed stainless steel door scuff plates, fully automatic temperature control system and a fully-stocked first-aid kit that includes poison-ivy balm, bee-sting ointment, sunscreen, adhesive bandages and even a thermal blanket.

Design And Construction

A team of designers at the Hyundai California Design Center in Fountain Valley, Calif. created the original Santa Fe concept vehicle. The Santa Fe Concept was conceived in the United States to meet the tastes and needs of the world's most demanding consumers. In addition, trends around the world were carefully analyzed during the research and design phases of the vehicle's preparation to verify its global appeal.

Designers at Hyundai's design centers in Germany, Tokyo and Seoul also were consulted during the project, and their input was incorporated into the final design.

Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 600 dealerships nationwide.