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Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai Tucson back as ■ Official sketch reveals ix35-replacing Qashqai rival for Geneva Ja Jack Rix
Jack_R Jac Jack_Rix@dennis.co.uk @jack_rix
HYUNDAI is bringing the Tucson name back to the UK for the first time since 2009. The new car, which will be sold globally as the Tucson, will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March before going on sale towards the end of the year, and this official sketch hints at how the compact SUV will look. The all-new model replaces the sixyear-old ix35, and looks set to offer a more athletic and aggressive exterior design. The Tucson’s proportions have been exaggerated in this designer’s sketch, but it’s a great start for a car that will lock horns with the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5. A low, sloping roofline, high waistline and a sharper, sportier stance than the current ix35 (below) are visible. There’s also Hyundai’s updated hexagonal grille, as seen on the facelifted i30. Despite this Range Rover Evoque-style profile, we expect the Tucson to maintain the same level of practicality that the outgoing ix35 offers, with a maximum boot capacity of 1,436 litres. Peter Schreyer, president and chief design officer of Hyundai, said: “Our
new compact SUV will be a big step forward for the Hyundai brand globally.” Hyundai has very high hopes for the Tucson, especially considering it sold 26 per cent more ix35s than ever before in 2014, despite being the oldest model in the range. The new car, with its rakish design, will also play a crucial part in reshaping opinions of the company. “We want to move the brand away from a rational purchase and towards an emotional purchase,” said Tony Whitehorn, president of Hyundai UK. “And we want to do it quickly.” Despite predicted growth in the total UK market of just 0.6 per cent, Whitehorn is hoping for a seven per cent increase in Hyundai sales – for a record-breaking total of 88,000 cars – thanks to a raft of new models. The new i20 has already been launched this month, the i20 Coupé follows in March along with the new i30 family (including the hot new 183bhp turbo version). A facelifted i40 then arrives in April – the same month the flagship £47,995, V6-powered Genesis saloon goes on sale in seven selected dealers across the UK. As Hyundai is using its big-bucks WRC campaign as leverage, expect more performance cars to start emerging in the coming months, too. And as a sign of its intent, the brand recently poached Albert Biermann, former VP of engineering at BMW M, to join its team.
ix35 has proven a sales hit, so new model is set to build on strong foundations
OFFICIAL
New grille
Tucson will feature Hyundai’s updated hexagonal grille, which debuted on the facelifted i30
...And little brother has Juke in A NISSAN Juke-rivalling little brother for the Tucson isn’t far away, either. A company insider told Auto Express: “We are looking at this very closely and with real interest. It’s something we would like to do, but we have to consider if it is just
a fad. The beauty of Hyundai is that if something gets the green light, we can move quicker than others.” The brand has already shown what it’s capable of with the unveil of the ix25 at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show, but this wouldn’t be an option for
C-X75, Range Rover Sport’s SPIEDfilm lead roles in new Bond JAGUAR Land Rover has confirmed its line-up of star cars for the next James Bond film, Spectre, due for release towards the end of this year. Topping the bill will be the C-X75 hypercar that’ll go head-to-head in a “spectacular” car chase through Rome with 007’s Aston Martin DB10. Prepared by Williams Advanced Engineering, more than one C-X75 has been used for filming. It’s the first time the car’s been seen in any public role since the programme was shelved in December 2012. The C-X75 is only one part of a product showcase by the marque’s Special Vehicle Operations division, however. “Heavily
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modified” versions of the Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Sport SVR will feature in scenes filmed in Austria – uprated to an extent that Land Rover is calling the Defender used in the film Big Foot. Special Vehicle Operations has fitted the cars with huge 37-inch off-road tyres, bespoke suspension systems and enhanced body protection. Managing director John Edwards said: “This is an exciting partnership for Jaguar Land Rover, and an opportunity to demonstrate the fantastic capabilities of the team.”
MOVIE STARS Jag C-X75 and “heavily modified”
Range Rover Sport will join James Bond on big screen
www.autoexpress.co.uk
