2007 Hyundai Santa Fe launches in Korea
Little information other than what we can glean from the pictures, but what we can see shows that the new Santa Fe
is a huge improvement over the current version. Hyundai's Santa Fe-dedicated website is
here (warning - lots of Flash). Autoblog reader
Source1 reports that a Hyundai dealer told him that we can expect two engines, a 3.3-liter putting out 240-250 hp, and
a 3.8-liter with 275-285 hp.
Much more after the jump!












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Rastus 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
I never thought I'd see the day when I saw a Hyundai in which I thought to myself, "SWEET!".
But here it is :)...I like it, alot!
Keep up the fine job there Hyundai...Americans need your quality products, along with the jobs which GM is intent on destroying.
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Aaron B 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Infiniti FX mixed with Toyota RAV4...looks very good, though, and much better than the RAV4 or any other Korean designs to date, save for the Tiburon.
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Strom 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Front end looks kind of like an Infiniti FX.
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Strom 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Aaron beat me to the FX comment!
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Joel A 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Nice. Looks like a much sportier version of the upcoming RAV4. Looks like the SUV selections have suddenly widened for those willing to purchase one. Personally, I can't wait to see what the Mazda CX-7 finally will look like next year.
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number six 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Yes, Rastus, Hyundai will be building this vehicle in Alabama. I understand that KIA (50% owned by Hyundai) are joining the frey and building a plant in Mississippi, hopefully they'll be able to put some people to work who lost everything recently, so they can rebuild their lives. As always, "Detroit Inc" (or should it be "Detroit, Sinks") (how about "Detroit Stinks"?) - sorry - back to topic - the Big 2 1/2 are laying off and exporting jobs to Mexico, China, etc. while the Japanese and South Koreans send jobs our way.
Being a patriot, I know who to reward. I own a Toyota Prius and my wife has a Hyundai.
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Jay 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
I'm not much of an SUV person, but Hyundai looks to have done a fantastic job with that, both in terms of styling and features. Kudos to them!
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jwong 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
does it comes with the motorola RAZR??
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zach001 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Truly, this is a job well done. I wonder what's causing the delay in showing this to the American public, but hey, whatever. I wonder if the nav system will make it into the US version. SOme of its competitors, i.e. the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander have a nav as an option.
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jm 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Kudo's to hyundai's chief designer. Simple, elegant and stylish without going over the top. Looks sell cars and this will sell well. I also like the integrated cell phone and stereo/ipod connector.
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Big 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
I like it. Who would have thought you could add a Touareg rear end to the FX and slap a Hyundai badge on it. Then add a Chryslerish instrument panel, sweet.
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Eric L. 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Very nice, but its also very much a clone of Toyota. Not that there is anything wrong with it. From the Highlander-like front end, RX330 clone wheels, Sienna style guages, Toyota-like Nav design, its pretty clear what Hyundai's benchmark was. The version in the picture appears to be a diesel, from the low redline.
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Finished.Law.School 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Looks tons better.
Now Ford and GM have one more place to look and take from when they smarten up and decide to get some decent vehicle designers in-house.
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James 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Looks a lot like that new Audi SUV thats comin out actually. And the sonata looks like the Accord. And the Kia Amanti looks like a Jag. And The Kia Sorento looks like the Lexus RX. Smart moves by the Koreans. Hope they can copy a BMW M5 next.
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James 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Looks a lot like that new Audi SUV thats comin out actually. And the sonata looks like the Accord. And the Kia Amanti looks like a Jag. And The Kia Sorento looks like the Lexus RX. Smart moves by the Koreans. Hope they can copy a BMW M5 next.
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Brian 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Last week I saw this car driving in the Chicago area. The badges were covered with tape and the license plates were blue - made me think Michigan Manufacturer, but they were not from issued by Michigan. I couldn't tell where they came from. Apparently it was Alabama.
Anyway, I passed it and immediately thought that it must have been Subaru testing a "refreshed" Tribeca, as it looked like that from the rear. The front made me think of the first-gen Rav4, not the FX (the grill was too sloped).
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Henry Ford 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
IF this was a Honda - it would be Motor Trends SUV of the year!!
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djbango 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Toyota is right to fear the Koreans, they are improving leaps and bounds over the last generation of product offerings
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ebp2k2 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
it's a good looking car... had to be since it taken some cues from FX45... I'm not digging the toureg looking rear, however.
a good looking car, more than enough horsies, and quality (*gasp) to be expected of ever-improving hyundai.. all for thousands less..
toyota HAS to fear hyundai.
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Bone 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Yes there is some FX in there, whether intentional or not I wouldn't venture to guess. What I first noticed is that there is now a common design DNA running though Hyundai models now, which speaks to their confidence as a manufacturer. Chrysler, hasn't even reached that level yet.
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