Hyundai's award-winning Santa Fe sport utility vehicle has been freshened, upgraded and refined for the 2005 model year. The Santa Fe is a three-time winner of the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award and the Santa Fe finished first in the Strategic Vision 2004 Total Quality Index.

The Santa Fe lineup for 2005 offers two models; GLS and LX. Santa Fe GLS buyers have a choice of two sophisticated V6 engines - the 2.7-liter DOHC V6 or the 3.5-liter DOHC V6. The Santa Fe LX features the powerful 3.5-liter V6 as standard equipment. The Santa Fe is no longer available with a four-cylinder engine, reflecting the addition of the Tucson to Hyundai's SUV lineup in the U.S.

Exterior changes and upgrades for 2005 Santa Fe include a new grille, refined bodyside cladding, new tail lights, redesigned tailgate handle, new rear bumper design, new 16-inch alloy wheel design and more.

Interior upgrades for 2005 include a new instrument cluster, new seat cloth, and a richer-looking two-tone color scheme. A power driver's seat is now standard on LX models and an electronic compass is now included when the buyer selects the available power-operated sunroof.

The standard engine on the Santa Fe GLS is the versatile 2.7-liter V6. This high-tech, all-aluminum, 24-valve, DOHC V6 engine is rated at 170 horsepower and 181 lb.ft. of torque. The 2.7-liter V6 is matched with a 4-speed automatic transmission fitted with Shiftronic manual control.

3.5-LITER V6 ENGINE AND 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

For 2005 the 3.5-liter V6 engine is standard on the LX and available on the GLS.
Hyundai's Sigma 3.5-liter engine is rated at 200 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and delivers 219 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 RPM. This sophisticated engine, with DOHC 24-valve aluminun cylinder heads, is also found in the luxurious Hyundai XG350 sedan.

The 3.5-liter engine is matched to Hyundai's 5-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual control. This electronically controlled transmission offers drivers the choice of leaving the lever in Drive or moving the lever to the right gate for manual shift control.

The transmission features fuzzy logic and is fully adaptive, so it "learns" a driver's preferences and plans its shift-mapping accordingly. Fuzzy logic is also helpful when driving in conditions with elevation changes.

NEW ELECTRONIC 4WD SYSTEM

The advanced electronic 4WD system matched to the Santa Fe 3.5-liter was designed with Borg-Warner and features InterActive Torque Management (ITM). When the system senses that the front wheels are slipping, it automatically transfers power to the rear wheels. When the front wheels are no longer slipping, power to the rear wheels is reduced or eliminated. This electronic system manages power between the front and rear wheels for maximum vehicle traction and fuel economy.

The ITM system consists of three sections in one compact, lightweight package; there is the actuating section, the torque transmitting section and the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The unit is mounted in front of the rear differential on the Santa Fe. The ECU receives signals from sensors and monitors wheel speed, throttle position and steering angle.

When the ECU senses the need for additional torque at the rear wheels, it sends a signal to the actuating section which causes the multiple wet clutches to compress and send torque to the rear axle.

The system is fully automatic; there are no buttons to push or levers to move -- 4WD traction is there whenever the driver needs it.

MECHANICAL FULLTIME 4WD

When the 2.7-liter Santa Fe is equipped with Fulltime 4WD, power is transmitted to the wheels through a four-wheel-drive system via the Dual Drive Differential that features two planetary gears and a viscous coupling.

The Fulltime 4WD system is designed to deliver 60 percent of the power to the front wheels and 40 percent to the rear wheels. This 4WD system, designed with Steyr-Puch, is driver-friendly and fully automatic; the mechanical Fulltime 4WD system requires no input from the driver.

LISTENING TO CUSTOMERS

" Santa Fe buyers are very clear and very vocal about what they want in their vehicle. We listen to their suggestions and incorporate them when possible," said Hyundai Motor America President and CEO Robert Cosmai. "Many of the changes that our customers suggested have been included in the Santa Fe. When Santa Fe buyers told us they wanted traction control, we listened. The result? Traction control is now standard on all 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe models. We intend to keep meeting the needs of our customers and keep Santa Fe the value leader in its class," Cosmai added.

SANTA FE TIMELINE

The Hyundai Santa Fe was introduced in the U.S. in the summer of 2000 as a 2001 model year vehicle. It was offered with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or a 2.7-liter V6 and became an immediate sales success. Since its introduction the Santa Fe has received regular enhancements and upgrades.

During the 2002 model year the centerstack was revised with larger air conditioning vents, improved map light, revised overhead console design and an optional power sliding sunroof.

At the start of the 2003 model year, the Santa Fe was again upgraded to include driver and front passenger seat-mounted side impact airbags as standard equipment. New Monsoon stereo systems were added for the GLS and LX models and the HomeLink system was added as standard equipment on the LX model.

Also added: illuminated power window switches, illuminated glove box interior, gas-charged struts that make it easier to raise the hood, a revised, easier-to-use seat recliner and folding mechanism, two outboard LATCH child seat anchors, chrome PRNDL (gear selector) surround and shift lever button (GLS and LX only) and chrome inside door handles and parking brake knob.

Late in the 2003 model year the 3.5-liter Santa Fe was introduced which included the 3.5-liter engine, the 5-speed automatic transmission and selected suspension upgrades.

Taking care of all the details -- large and small -- increases customer satisfaction. These continuing refinements and changes are just part of Hyundai's ongoing efforts designed to provide even more quality, value and comfort for their customers.

A LONG LIST OF STANDARD FEATURES

All Santa Fe models for 2005 offer a long list of standard features including air conditioning, ABS with traction control, 16-inch wheel and tire package, privacy glass and four-wheel disc brakes. Power door locks, body-color mirrors and body-color door handles (chrome on Santa Fe LX) are standard. Santa Fe GLS is equipped with a Monsoon AM/FM 218-watt stereo cassette & CD system. The Santa Fe LX is fitted with a Monsoon AM/FM 218-watt stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD changer. Additional standard equipment for the top-of-the-line Santa Fe LX includes power driver's seat, leather seating surfaces with heated front seats, fully automatic temperature control, and electrochromic auto-dimming inside rear view mirror with HomeLink.

CAR-LIKE RIDE AND HANDLING

The Hyundai Santa Fe is the first sport utility vehicle designed, engineered and manufactured by Hyundai Motor Company specifically for the North American market.

The Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, which is built on an extensively revised version of the Sonata midsize car platform, offers buyers the highly desirable combination of car-like ride, handling, NVH, steering and braking along with traditional SUV ride height, commanding visibility, utility and styling.

The Santa Fe has MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. At the rear is a fully independent trailing-arm design with multi-links, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. Power rack-and-pinion power steering is standard.

With strong character lines over the front and rear wheel wells, the Santa Fe has a handsome and distinctive look in a market that is crowded with "me-too" designs.

The standard, new-design 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels fitted with 225/70R-16 tires give the Santa Fe an aggressive stance.

INTERIOR AND SAFETY

With more than 100 cubic feet of passenger volume plus more than 30 cubic feet of cargo volume, the Santa Fe is spacious, flexible and comfortable.

The Santa Fe has important safety features including driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact airbags. The front seat belts also come with automatic pretensioners to cinch the belt tightly in the event of a collision.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

A team of designers at the Hyundai California Design Center in Fountain Valley, Calif. created the original Santa Fe concept vehicle. The Santa Fe Concept was
conceived in the United States to meet the tastes and needs of the world's most demanding consumers. In addition, trends around the world were carefully analyzed during the research and design phases of the vehicle's preparation to verify its global appeal.

Designers at Hyundai's design centers in Germany, Tokyo and Seoul also were consulted during the project, and their input was incorporated into the final design.

Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 640 dealerships nationwide.

Journalists are invited to visit Hyundai's media website: www.hyundainews.com.