2008
HYUNDAI NEW CAR MODEL GUIDE
 Hyundai
of South Korea skews vehicles directly
toward the American market, thanks to
an array of production facilities in the
United States, such as a new assembly
plant in Alabama, studios for research
and design in California and a technology
and engineering center in Michigan. Hyundai's
2008 collection of nine vehicles gains
equipment for safety and rider comfort,
as a new crossover utility vehicle (CUV)
emerges in the seven-passenger Vericruz.
 Accent
Mellow Yellow is the latest paint chip
for Hyundai's subcompact cars, which includes
a four-door sedan and three-door coupe.
Each stocks safety equipment like curtain-style
air bags. Trim levels available for the
Accent include the sedan's well-equipped
GLS, the coupe's GL and a special edition
SE, which stocks a sport shifter by B
& M Racing. A new instrument cluster
drops into the GLS and SE, with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) now
stock on every Accent. Power for all models
stems from Hyundai's 1.6-liter, four-in-line
engine with its 110 horsepower tied to
a standard five-speed manual transmission
or optional four-speed automatic.
 Sonata
Hyundai's mid-size sedan has premium features
and lots of safety equipment like electronic
stability control (ESC) and six air bags,
including curtain-style inflators in the
roof. The Sonata shows three trims with
the GLS, SE and Limited. Powertrains available
are the 2.4-liter, four-pack with CVVT
(Continuously Variable Valve Timing) for
162 horsepower or a 3.3-liter V6 worth
234 horsepower. Both plants are available
with every trim. For the 2.4 plant, a
five-speed manual is standard with a four-speed
Shiftronic automatic optional, while the
V6 ties to a five-speed Shiftronic automatic.
Limited upgrades include the Infinity
AM-FM-XM audio and a sunroof.
 Azera
The luxurious flagship of Hyundai is a
premium performance sedan sculpted with
aerodynamic sheetmetal and crafted with
a five-seat, leather-lined cabin. The
cabin has front buckets seats and a rear
bench with split folding seatback. The
Azera offers trims of GLS Premium, Limited
and the Ultimate Package. The engine for
all models is a dual-cam, 3.8-liter V6
delivering 265 horsepower through a five-speed
automatic Shiftronic transmission. For
2008, Azera Limited scores a new sunroof
as standard equipment, plus body-colored
sideview mirrors and an Infinity audio
kit. Safety features like ESC and eight
air bags go into every Azera.
 Santa
Fe
Hyundai's front-wheel-drive (FWD) CUV
comes with a variety of powertrain choices
and class-leading standard safety features.
The base 2.7-liter V6 produces 185 horsepower,
while the 3.3-liter V6 spins out 242 horsepower.
Electronically controlled all-wheel-drive
(AWD) traction is optional with the larger
V6, and safety equipment includes an anti-lock
brake system (ABS) with electronic brake
distribution (EBD), ESC skid controls
and curtain-style air bags. The spacious
cabin of Santa Fe structures enough space
for three tiers of seats with an optional
third-row bench. The ultimate edition
Limited gains new options like a navigation
and touring package with video entertainment
kit.
 Vericuz
The seven-passenger CUV from Hyundai rolled
out in 2007, and comes back this year
with more standard content on the deluxe
Limited issue. Additions include memory
settings for power controls on the driver's
seat and power mirrors, adjustable gas
and brake pedals, rain-sensing wipers
and lighted door scuff plates. There are
three trim steps on the Vericruz with
the entry-level GLS, the SE edition and
the top-tier Limited. Vericruz's powertrain
is a 3.8-liter V6 pumping 260 horsepower
in concert with a six-speed automatic
Shiftronic transmission. Traction choices
are FWD or Hyundai's electronically controlled
AWD system.
 Tucson
Riding on a car's platform and packing
extensive standard safety features, Hyundai's
small-class CUV presents a shapely, sheetmetal
package and flexible passenger compartment
with seating for five and tag cargo. Tucson
offers a four-cylinder and V6 powertrain
option distributed across three levels
of trim — the base GLS, upgraded
SE and deluxe Limited. The Tucson GLS
gets Hyundai's 2.0-liter, four-in-line
CVVT with 140 horsepower and a five-speed
manual or optional four-speed Shiftronic
automatic. The Tucson SE and Limited use
Hyundai's 2.7-liter V6 for 173 horsepower.
The CUV also supports two traction formats
with FWD or AWD.
 Entourage
Hyundai's first North American minivan
joined the Class of 2007 and returns again
this year with more equipment aboard.
The Entourage rides on a platform with
a long wheelbase and broad track, setting
up spacious quarters in the cabin. There's
room for seven, with second-row seats
that flip and fold and a rear bench split
60/40, disappearing into the flat floor.
A twin-cam, 3.8-liter CVVT V6 motivates
this minivan with 242 horsepower and ties
to a five-speed Shiftronic automatic.
Standard safety features range from curtain-style
air bags for outboard seats, to four-channel
ABS with EBD and ESC.
 Elantra
Hyundai's compact-class four-door sedan
and five-door wagon scored a make-over
last year, which produced striking new
body styling on the expanded package with
more standard safety gear aboard. For
2008, the Elantra SE Premium with Leather
Package replaces the Elantra Limited trim.
The base model is tagged as Elantra GLS.
The engine for all Elantras is Hyundai's
2.0-liter, four-cylinder plant with CVVT
and a power rating of 138 horsepower.
Stock gear for all include four-wheel
disc brakes linked to ABS with EBD and
six air bags including curtain-style air
bags in headliners. ESC skid controls
are now standard to the Elantra SE.
 Tiburon
Hyundai's slick sports coupe wears an
extended hoodline and hatchback roofline
tapering to a stubby tail. The Tiburon
GT trim carries a dual-cam, 2.7-liter
V6 rated at 172 horsepower with five-speed
manual or four-speed Shiftronic automatic.
Top performer Tiburon SE teams the V6
with a sporty six-speed manual stick.
It also has a spoiler on the tail and
a cockpit fitted with aluminum pedals,
extra gauges and a Kenwood audio package.
Price-leader Tiburon GS uses Hyundai's
138 horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder
engine with five-speed manual shifting.
The newlyl available XM satellite radio
service comes with a free three-month
subscription.
For
more information on Hyundai
vehicles.
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