Hyundai Becomes Preferred Supplier for UK Police

Bob Dylan once said, "The Times They Are A-Changin'." If you lived in Britain in the 1950s and '60s, you'd see custodian helmeted policemen driving around in Morris Minors and Ford Anglias. In the '70s you'd see mustachioed policemen driving around in Ford Consuls and Rover 3500s. Then the '80s rolled around and there were policemen and women cruising around in Rover SD1s and Land Rovers.

Then, starting from the late 1980s, something strange happened. Rover - one of the most British of carmakers - started rebadging Hondas. In the 1990's, Germans, who had lost the War, began buying all of Britain's beloved marquees. And the UK Police, who had always bought British before, began buying Mitsubishis. The world had gone mad.

Now, in 2010, Hyundai has been awarded 'preferred supplier' status by the National Association of Police Fleet Managers. That means the UK Police Forces can buy Hyundai's new vehicles.

It's a big sales and publicity boost for Hyundai. Each year, 2,000 cars are acquired by London's Metropolitan Police and a further 7,800 are acquired for work outside the city.

Managing director of Hyundai UK, Tony Whitehorn, said: "Anyone buying a car needs to make sure that they are getting the best possible package for their money. That's especially true when you are buying thousands of vehicles and spending taxpayers' money! The quality, reliability, resale value and performance of Hyundai vehicles has shone through and they've been given the green light to carry a blue light."

Hyundai said the most popular vehicles are expected to be the i20, i30, ix35, Santa Fe and iLoad van. Can you imagine an i20 police car? Doesn't the mere thought of it make your skin crawl?

For the time being, here's an ix35 / Tucson in police livery. It's an okay looker, though doesn't look half as smart as a Land Rover in the same outfit. Maybe I'm just bitter. Oh well, at least Officer Plod will have iPod integration and ESC as standard. That'll show them hoodlums whose boss.

By Tristan Hankins

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All-New 2010 Hyundai Tucson Priced from $19,790

The completely redesigned 2010 Tucson SUV will begin arriving at Hyundai's dealerships in the coming days with prices starting from $18,995 for the entry-level GLS with a six-speed manual-transmission and topping out at $24,345 for the Limited model. Bear in mind though that the above prices do not include a freight charge of $795.

For now, the new Tucson will be offered only with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder petrol rated at 176 horsepower and 168 lb.-ft. of torque, that can be linked to 6-speed manual or a automatic transmissions. However, Hyundai plans to add a 2.0-liter engine to the range in the 2011 model year.

There are two trim levels available for the 2010 Tucson, the base GLS which can be upgraded with the Popular and Navigation packages, and the more upscale Limited that can be enhanced with the Premium package.

You can find more detailed information on the standard equipment and the optional packages in the spec sheet below.

TUCSON GLS

Key GLS standard equipment:

• 2.4L Theta II DOHC I4
  
• 6-speed manual or automatic transmission
  
• Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS)
  
• 4-wheel independent suspension
  
• 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers and 225/60R17 tires & TPMS
  
• ESC with TCS
  
• Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) & Downhill Brake Control (DBC)
  
• ABS, EBD, and Brake Assist w/ 4-wheel disc brakes
  
• 6 airbags with rollover sensor
  
• Active front & adjustable head restraints for all seating positions
  
• EZ lane change assist turn signals
  
• Air conditioning with air filter
  
• AM/FM/Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with 6 speakers, iPod®/USB auxiliary input jacks, iPod® cable and roof antenna
  
• Power windows, door locks and mirrors
  
• Remote keyless entry with alarm
  
• Trip computer & Eco Indicator
  
• Tilt steering wheel
  
• Armrest storage box & front seatback pockets
  
• Metal paint and black high gloss accents
  
• Front and cargo area power outlet
  
• Bottle holders in all four doors
  
• Rear armrest with cupholders
  
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback
  
• Side sill molding and bodycolor rear spoiler
  
• Underfloor cargo storage with reversible cover
  
• Rear wiper & washer
  

Popular equipment package (GLS std. equip. plus) $1,700:

• Telescopic steering wheel
  
• 17-inch alloy wheels
  
• Auto up/down driver power window
  
• Leatherette bolster/cloth insert seats
  
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel & shift knob
  
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone system
  
• Illuminated vanity mirrors & glovebox
  
• Steering wheel audio controls
  
• Cruise control
  
• Soft touch interior paint
  
• Bodycolor door handles
  
• Bodycolor heated mirrors
  
• Side garnish
  
• Privacy glass
  
• Roof side rails
  
• Engine cover
  

Navigation (includes Popular equipment package) $3,700:

• Navigation system with 6.5-inch screen
  
• Rearview camera
  
• Premium audio with external amplifier and subwoofer
  
• Automatic headlights
  

TUCSON LIMITED

• GLS Popular Equipment Pkg. equipment plus:
  
• 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/55R18 tires
  
• Leather seating surfaces
  
• Heated front seats (high/low settings)
  
• Power driver seat with lumbar support
  
• Dual front automatic temperature control with CleanAir Ionizer
  
• Solar glass
  
• Deluxe door scuff
  
• Cargo cover
  
• Chrome grille & door handles
  
• Automatic headlights
  
• Fog lights
  
• Front wiper de-icer
  
• Side repeater exterior mirrors
  
• Limited badging (rear)
  

Premium Package $2,850:

• Panoramic sunroof
  
• Navigation system with 6.5-inch screen
  
• Rearview camera
  
• Premium audio with external amplifier and subwoofer
  
• Delete roof side rails
  

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2010 Hyundai Tucson Makes U.S. Debut in LA, gets Two New Four-Cylinder Engines, Ditches V6

Along with the 2011 Sonata mid-size sedan, Hyundai also introduced the North American-spec 2010 Tucson SUV (ix35 in Europe) at this week's Los Angeles International Auto Show. Like the latest Sonata, the new Tucson boasts a funky exterior design that's far more exciting than its dull predecessor and a significantly upgraded interior with a much more modern and premium look.

With an overall length of 173.2 inches, a width of 71.7 inches and a height of 66.3 inches (with roof rails), the 2010 Tucson is 3.3 inches longer and one inch wider than its predecessor. However, according to Hyundai, it's 61 pounds lighter than the outgoing model.

The new Tucson uses MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension systems while for the first time, Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) systems will be standard.

When the 2010 Tucson arrives at Hyundai's U.S. dealerships later this month, it will be offered with a Theta II 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine connected to either a either a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic. This unit replaces the current model's 2.7-liter V6.

Unlike the new Sonata's 198HP Theta II 2.4L engine, the Tucson's Theta II does not feature direct injection. Hyundai rates the Tucson's unit at 176 horsepower and 168 lb.-ft. of torque, meaning it's slightly more powerful but less torque than the current model's 2.7-liter V6 that makes 173HP and 178 lb-ft.

However, the new four-cylinder unit is significantly more fuel efficient as Hyundai claims that with the available six-speed automatic transmission and front wheel drive, the new Tucson returns an estimated 23 mpg city / 31 mpg highway compared to the current Tucson FWD Auto's 18mpg / 24mpg respectively.

In fact, Hyundai says that the new Tucson is more fuel-efficient than the four-cylinder versions of the Honda CRV, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.

With AWD (All-Wheel Drive), the new Tucson delivers an estimated 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway.

In addition to the 2.4-liter engine, Hyundai will introduce an even more fuel efficient Blue model for the 2011 model year. It will be powered by a Theta II 2.0-liter engine that's said to deliver better power and fuel economy than the 2009 Tucson Beta four-cylinder engine.

Sales of the 2010 Tucson will begin before the end of December with pricing expected to start under $20,000.

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2011 Kia Sportage Compact SUV Spied Inside and Out

Kia is continuing the development of its next generation Sportage that is scheduled to enter the market in the first half of 2010. Our spies captured a camouflaged prototype of the compact SUV in Germany giving us a taste of the Sportage silhouette and interior styling. As you may have already guessed, the 2011 Sportage (or 2010, depending on which side of the Atlantic you're located) is based on the new Hyundai ix35 utilizing the same platform and hardware.

At least in what concerns the European market model, the next Sportage will most likely be offered with the same engine line up as the Hyundai Tucson's replacement.

That said, European buyers should expect three diesels including a new 1.7-liter unit rated at 115hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, and 136HP and 184HP versions of the Korean firm's 2.0-liter 'R' turbo diesel.

The gasoline engine range should consists of the Hyundai- Kia Group's forthcoming 1.6-liter GDI direct-injection four-pot that makes 140 hp and 123 lb-ft. of torque and a more powerful 2.0-liter unit with 166HP and 145 lb-ft.

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2010 Hyundai Tucson Spied Working Out, will get New 1.6-liter Direct Injection Engines

By the end of the year, Hyundai is expected to have swiped the covers off two very important models for the company's future - the 2011 Sonata mid-size sedan, pictures of which we showed you earlier today, and the second generation Tucson SUV that could be revealed as early as this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Even though Hyundai has tried its best to hide the Tucson's styling with a plastic "body armor", these latest scoop photos imply that the exterior design of the crossover will be less radical than this year's Geneva show ix-onic concept model.

Moving on to interior, our spy shots suggest that Hyundai's new contender in the key compact SUV segment will boast a more upscale interior with a more attractive design for the dashboard. Better materials should also be in the mix.

Sharing the same platform architecture with the new Kia Sportage that is currently under development, the 2010 Tucson will be offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive layouts.

According to our sources, Hyundai plans to offer the Tucson with two newly developed 1.6-liter direct injection petrol engines including a naturally aspirated version with an output of 140HP that will also power the Veloster Coupe, and a turbocharged variant with around 175 horsepower that was previewed on the concept model. However, our people did not confirm if these powerplants would be available upon launch or at a later date.

Diesel lovers won't be let down either as the Tucson's engine line-up will also include a couple of oil burners such as the 2.0-liter 'R' unit that makes 184 horsepower and 400Nm of torque.

Hyundai's new Toyota RAV-4 rival that is rumored to be renamed to iX35 in many markets, should arrive in Europe by year's end, followed by North America in early 2010.

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Spied: 2010 Hyundai Tucson Compact SUV Development Continues

If our sources are correct, we will be seeing the next-generation Hyundai Tucson making its world debut this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show with sales beginning in Europe and Korea before the end of the year and in North America, sometime during the first half of 2010. In the meantime, Hyundai is continuing to develop the Tucson which was captured here out in Death Valley by Automotive Traveler's Rich Truesdell.

The prototype models are still under heavy camouflage but Hyundai gave us a taste of the styling direction it plans to take with the new Tucson in Geneva with the 'ix-onix' concept study (see pics below).

Eyeing Toyota's RAV-4 and Honda's CR-V, the Korean firm's compact SUV will most likely carry the iX35 moniker at least in Europe and it will be offered with various petrol and diesel engine options including the final production version of the concept vehicle's 175HP 1.6-litre turbocharged four-banger petrol.

Spy Photos: Automotive Traveler

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