Nigeria - New Hyundai Tucson ix35 in, sold out
By Moses Akaigwe
The SunNewsOnline

The warmest news in the auto market is that the revolutionary all-new Tucson ix35, the latest successor to the highest-selling small sport utility vehicle (SUV), has joined the rapidly evolving Hyundai product line. And, it is not driving in just to make up the line-up, but seems poised to surpass the success streak of the predecessor.

Reason? The first Hyundai CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) to be designed and engineered in Europe at Hyundai's Frankfurt-based design and technical centre, has become something of an instant hit, because the initial batch of about 100 units brought in by Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited, a division of the Stallion Motors, sold out in a matter of days, with a lot of orders on the queue.

This was confirmed by the Marketing Director, Mr Kiran Parab, who enthused that one of the many advantages the all-new Tucson is coming in with is competitive pricing. This, he said, combines favourably with a rich array of features to seduce many an admirer of the competing products.

Moreover, the Tucson ix35 combines dynamic, sculpted, performance-oriented styling with thoughtful everyday utility to create a vehicle that changes the way consumers, especially young, dynamic, and ambitious car buyers, think about compact crossovers. And, indeed, theses are the people the 2.0 SUV are made for, according to Parab.

The vehicle is driving in with a little bit of a positive irony: Despite gaining extra inches in comparison with the predecessor model, it is amazingly lighter, thanks to the ultra-high tensile strength steel, which comprises 68.9 percent of the shell compared to its predecessor's 57.3 percent. Specifically, the 2010 Tucson ix35 is 3.3 inches longer and one inch wider than its predecessor, yet 61 pounds lighter. At 3,203 pounds for an automatic transmission model, the Tucson ix35 is lighter than its competitors, and this means less fuel consumption; in fact, more fuel efficient than its predecessor and chief competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and in these days of high cost of petroleum products and occasional scarcity, this is good news for the Nigerian motoring public.

Due to the suspension geometry and wider track width that enables greater turn angles, Tucson ix35's turning circle is 34.7 feet - an advantage Tucson ix35's drivers will appreciate in their daily driving and parking. This was practically demonstrated when the vehicle was test-driven recently by a section of the motoring press in Lagos. In fact, ix35 turning diameter, according to experts, is better than Honda CR-V's and Toyota RAV4's. To help Tucson ix35 drivers get the most out of their vehicles, Hyundai added a standard trip computer and economy indicator. The trip computer provides distance to empty, average fuel consumption, average vehicle speed, elapsed time and instant fuel economy.

The "Eco Indicator" on automatic transmission models nestled between the speedometer and tachometer displays a green LED light in accordance with fuel-efficient driving behavior. Fuel savings in the range of 15 to 17 percent are attainable with the automatic Eco Indicator. Manual transmission models have a shift indicator to inform drivers of the optimal time to upshift and downshift. Fuel savings in the range 7 to 9 percent are attainable with the manual Eco Gear Shift Indicator.

Hyundai's commitment to making the Tucson ix35 extremely fuel efficient continues with a six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control or a standard six-speed manual transaxle. Survey the interior, and you will discover that the high-tech cockpit comes standard with Hyundai's signature blue lighting, power windows, power door locks, fold-away mirrors and remote keyless entry with alarm and panic button. Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition and steering wheel audio and cruise controls are also available.

The Tucson ix35 is loaded with life-saving standard safety features including ESC with traction control, six airbags and active front head restraints. Its braking system features four-wheel disc brakes controlled by an advanced four-channel ABS with Brake Assist, providing maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to optimize brake performance with uneven weight distribution. ESC compares the driver's intended course with the vehicle's actual response. If needed, ESC then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power to help correct understeer or oversteer. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies show SUVs equipped with ESC experience 67 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes, and 63 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities. In addition, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that ESC reduces the risk of all fatal collisions by 52 percent and the risk of fatal single-vehicle rollovers of SUVs by 80 percent.

The Tucson ix35 is engineered to provide its passengers with multiple defensive safety layers. The steel unibody has integrated crumple zones and a high-tensile front sub-frame designed to work together to reduce the forces that typically reach the passenger compartment. Particular attention has been paid to increasing the stiffness of the front side members which have been enlarged and straightened. All four doors also have internal guard beams to protect passengers in a side-impact collision.

A total of six airbags are positioned in the Tucson ix35's interior. Dual advanced frontal airbags are complemented by front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags with new rollover sensors that cover both the front and rear seat rows. The combination of side and curtain airbags, which help protect the head and body during side impacts, can reduce fatalities by more than 45 percent, according to the IIHS.

Tucson also features a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) which alerts drivers if one or more tires are under inflated. The 2010 Hyundai Tucson ix35 is protected by Hyundai Advantage the 3 years/100,000kms warranty in Nigeria. In USA, Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty. Coverage includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage