Top Hyundai-Kia models in Europe _ Tucson
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The Hyundai Motor Tucson SUV front / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Europe is no exception to the booming popularity of small-size sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
During the Frankfurt International Motor Show, which will be held until Sept. 24, global carmakers have been showcasing their latest SUV lineups to expand their presence in the European market.
Hyundai Motor, Korea’s largest carmaker, also unveiled the Kona SUV for the first time in Europe during the auto show.
Selling 4,230 cars in Korea last month, the Kona has become the most popular SUV in Korea.
In Europe, the Hyundai Tucson SUV has maintained its leading position as the auto giant’s bestseller in the region.
According to Hyundai Motor, the auto giant sold 155,389 Tucson small-size SUVs last year in Europe, up 36.2 percent from a year ago.
Thanks to the third-generation Tucson’s successful debut in 2015, it beat the annual sales record of the carmaker’s single vehicle model in Europe.
The third-generation Tucson places Hyundai Motor’s signature hexagonal athlete grille between sleek LED headlamps that lead to dynamically sculpted flanks.
Side repeater lamps are also located in the rearview mirror attracting the attention of other road users to make turns and lane changes safer.
The 2018 Tucson SUV comes with four engine choices _ a 1.6-liter GDi and T-GDi gasoline as well as a 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter CRDi diesel.
The 1.6-liter GDi gasoline engine offers maximum 132 horsepower at 6,300 rpm with a 16.4 kg.m torque at 4,850 rpm while its turbo version produces a maximum 177 horsepower at 5,500 rpm with 27.0 kg.m torque.
The 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter CRDi diesel engines output maximum 115 horsepowers with 28.5 kg.m torque and 185 horsepower with a 41.0 kg.m torque, respectively.
The 2018 Tucson SUV also features the carmaker’s latest advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including the autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance and blind spot detection.
Along with its ADASs, Hyundai Motor said the model has achieved best-in-class structural rigidity with its extensively reinforced body design and the application of Advanced High Strength Steel formed by the hot-stamping process.
For the model’s four-wheel-drive option, the advanced traction cornering control directs torque to the wheels that have the most grip to enhance cornering performance and safety. It also actively applies measured braking to the inside rear wheel.
When the vehicle brakes or corners on wet or slippery roads, the Tucson’s vehicle stability management intervenes to help provide enhanced stability and traction through the interaction between Electronic Stability Control and Motor-Driven Power Steering.
The 2018 Tucson also features the Smart Parking Assist System that utilizes ultra-sonic sensors located on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle to identify viable parking spaces, then automatically steers into the available space. It manages parking maneuvers in parallel and perpendicular situations.
The model’s front seats have three-stage heating system while the rear seats with cushions and backrests have two-stage heating.
Named after the U.S. city of Tucson, Arizona, the SUV models was first introduced in 2004 under production platform sharing with the Elantra.
The second-generation Tucson came on the market in 2009 while the third one was introduced during the Geneva international Motor Show in March 2015. Shortly after its debut, the third-generation Tucson SUV received a five-star safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration in November 2015.