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Hyundai 'Santa Fe' Debuts in Detroit

6 January 1999

Hyundai 'Santa Fe' Debuts in Detroit

              - Concept SUV Loaded with Class-Leading Features,
           Demonstrating Hyundai's Commitment to the U.S. Market -

    DETROIT, Jan. 5 -- Hyundai marks its first step into the
expanding sport-utility vehicle market with today's worldwide debut of the
"Santa Fe" concept SUV at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in
Detroit.
    The Santa Fe is the first SUV designed, engineered and developed by
Hyundai, South Korea's leading auto maker.  A production version of the
concept vehicle will go on sale in the spring of next year at Hyundai
dealerships across the United States.
    "With the Santa Fe, Hyundai has demonstrated its continuing commitment to
the North American auto market by researching and developing an SUV that will
be sold primarily in the United States," said Finbarr O'Neill, president and
chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America.
    The Hyundai concept SUV is named after the capital city in the American
Southwest, known both for its rugged Western character and its sophisticated
design and style sense.  Taking its name, logo and styling cues from the
spirit of the U.S. Southwestern desert, the Santa Fe features bronze and terra
cotta body colors, a sand-toned leather-wrapped interior, and even a
warm-chrome finish on its windmill-style alloy wheels.
    The Santa Fe is powered by an all-aluminum, 24-valve, double-overhead-cam
V-6 engine, transversely mounted.  The transmission is a four-speed,
electronically controlled, fully adaptive automatic.
    Power is transmitted to the wheels through an electronically controlled,
all-wheel drive system with viscous coupling that seamlessly engages the rear
wheels for added traction when needed -- without any input from the driver.
    The Santa Fe has MacPherson strut front suspension.  At the back is a
semi-trailing arm rear suspension.
    With strong character lines over front and rear wheel wells, the Santa Fe
shows Hyundai family resemblance to the Tiburon coupe and Sonata sedan.  At
the same time, the Santa Fe's body-side contours recall a desert landscape and
give the Hyundai more styling personality than traditionally angular SUVs.
    Big 17-inch wheels and tires supply the Santa Fe with an aggressive stance
on the road, and large ovoid headlamps are placed at the corners of the front
end to create an image of size and presence.
    The Santa Fe is similar in size to the Isuzu Rodeo, Honda CR-V and Toyota
RAV 4.  Designed to meet the driving demands of most SUV buyers, the Santa Fe
was built to drive like a car, with a definite on-road focus, yet serve as an
excellent vehicle in all weather and limited-traction conditions.

    AN INTERIOR CREATED FOR CONVENIENCE AND SAFETY
    With a bow toward U.S. market tastes, the Santa Fe boasts a number of
everyday convenience items to please SUV buyers.
    In addition to universal-size cup-holders, the Santa Fe is equipped with
water bottle holders.  Unusual "free-floating" door handles make exits easier
while side pockets with lids sit beneath the arm rests.  Two 12-volt in-dash
outlets, and one placed in the rear, handle various electrical accessory
needs.  Also in back is a handy lift-out picnic table, accessible through the
large rear hatch that is mounted on telescoping struts.  The spare tire stows
out of the way beneath the rear of the car.
    The Santa Fe has important safety features, such as second-generation,
depowered dual frontal airbags.  A Passenger-Presence Detection system shuts
off the passenger-side airbags when a small child, or no one, is in the seat.
The front seat belts also come with automatic pretensioners to cinch the belt
in the event of a collision.

    DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
    A team of designers at the Hyundai California Design Center created the
original Santa Fe.  The vehicle was designed in the United States because
America has been the home of the sport utility vehicle.  However, trends
around the world were carefully analyzed during the research and design phases
of the vehicle's preparation.
    Hyundai's other design centers in Germany, Tokyo and Seoul 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 are distributed in the United
States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through nearly 500
dealerships nationwide.