The small-class SUV from Hyundai -- riding on the platform of a car and rigged with commendable standard safety features including ESC with TCS -- presents a shapely sheetmetal package and a flexible passenger compartment with seats for five riders plus room in the rear for gear. The back bay has an easy-to-clean composite floor and multiple tie-down points to secure a load of cargo. Standard items for Tucson include air conditioning, power windows and a keyless entry system.

Tucson also brings four-cylinder and V6 powertrain options distributed across three levels of trim -- base GL, upgraded GLS and new deluxe Limited. The SUV also supports two traction formats with FWD or AWD. Tucson GL employs Hyundai's 2.0-liter four-in-line with CVVT. It produces 140 hp and ties to a five-speed manual or optional four-speed Shiftronic automatic. Tucson GLS and top-trim Limited rate Hyundai's 2.7-liter V6 for 173 hp.

Hyundai, largest car company in South Korea, invests in North America with its new Alabama assembly plant, a technology and engineering center in Michigan, research and design studios in California plus a test track in the Mojave Desert. As a result, many of the vehicles in Hyundai's extensive lineup for 2006 skew directly toward the American market -- such as Sonata, a mid-size sedan with V6 power that comes together at the Alabama plant. Azera pops up as Hyundai's elegant new flagship sedan for the USA, and Accent, smallest car in Hyundai's fleet, rolls out in a new design with segment-leading standard safety systems aboard.

Hyundai's car for the economy class is new from tires to top in the format of a subcompact four-door sedan laced with segment-leading standard safety features. The gear includes an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), four-wheel disc brakes, and dual frontal plus seat-mounted air bags for front riders and curtain-style air bags tucked in the ceiling for all four outboard seats.

Accent for 2006 grows up -- it measures several inches longer than the previous version and three inches taller, which adds inches of legroom and headroom to a five-place cabin. The single trim -- a well-equipped GLS -- comes with a 172-watt AM/FM/CD audio system, 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback and a tilting steering wheel.

Power stems from Hyundai's new 1.6-liter four-in-line engine scored to 110 hp with a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic.

Hyundai, largest car company in South Korea, invests in North America with its new Alabama assembly plant, a technology and engineering center in Michigan, research and design studios in California plus a test track in the Mojave Desert. As a result, many of the vehicles in Hyundai's extensive lineup for 2006 skew directly toward the American market -- such as Sonata, a mid-size sedan with V6 power that comes together at the Alabama plant. Azera pops up as Hyundai's elegant new flagship sedan for the USA, and Accent, smallest car in Hyundai's fleet, rolls out in a new design with segment-leading standard safety systems aboard.

Sonata has been the value-packed mid-size sedan in Hyundai's fleet with seats for five in a spacious cabin. However, the 2006 Sonata will be notably larger and skewed more toward comfort, even luxury.

The design and assembly of Sonata moves to America, thanks to Hyundai's new factory in Alabama, plus a design and technical center in Michigan and a test track in the California desert.

Sonata's new engine choices include a four-cylinder plant and an optional V6 that will deliver 230 hp.

Santa Fe is slated for an expansion program which will result in a larger second-generation edition for 2006. Prototypes of this revised Santa Fe show bold sheetmetal styling, with swept-back fenders and streamlined body parts. The size increases to fit in the mid-size class, with multiple inches of extra room in the cabin making possible three tiers of seats.

The platform for the 2006 Santa Fe will be the chassis of a new Sonata sedan, also scheduled as a 2006 model.

Hyundai's low-slung sports coupe is marked by muscular fender bulges flanking an extended hoodline and a hatchback roofline which tapers to a stubby tail. For 2006, Tiburon scores a new GT Limited edition in leather with a power glass sunroof aboard and Infinity audio kit with six-disc CD changer.

Tiburon GT and new GT Limited carry a dual-cam V6 sized at 2.7 liters and racked to 172 hp with a five-speed manual shifter or optional four-speed Shiftronic automatic. Ultimate performance issue is the Tiburon SE, which comes with a sporty six-speed manual stick, plus red front brake calipers, a tall spoiler on the tail and the cockpit fixed with aluminum pedals, extra gauges in the instrument cluster, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and Kenwood audio system with CD/MP3 player.

Price-leader Tiburon GS gets Hyundai's 138 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with five-speed manual shifting.

Hyundai, largest car company in South Korea, invests in North America with its new Alabama assembly plant, a technology and engineering center in Michigan, research and design studios in California plus a test track in the Mojave Desert. As a result, many of the vehicles in Hyundai's extensive lineup for 2006 skew directly toward the American market -- such as Sonata, a mid-size sedan with V6 power that comes together at the Alabama plant. Azera pops up as Hyundai's elegant new flagship sedan for the USA, and Accent, smallest car in Hyundai's fleet, rolls out in a new design with segment-leading standard safety systems aboard.

Hyundai's luxurious new four-door flagship, which supplants the XG350 in 2006, forges a premium performance sedan sculpted with aerodynamic sheetmetal and crafted with a five-seat cabin lined in leather. Azera offers two trim tiers with GLS and Limited.

Engine for either is Hyundai's dual-cam 3.8-liter V6 that produces 265 hp in concert with a five-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic shift mode. Noteworthy safety features apply like ESC with TCS plus eight air bags including curtain-style air bags in the ceiling above each side window.

Azera GLS applies deluxe fabric on seats with power controls for front buckets and a bench in back with split folding seatback, an automatic climate system and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Limited model upgrades with 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery with heated front seats, electroluminescent gauges in the instrument cluster and an electric sunshade in the rear window.

Hyundai, largest car company in South Korea, invests in North America with its new Alabama assembly plant, a technology and engineering center in Michigan, research and design studios in California plus a test track in the Mojave Desert. As a result, many of the vehicles in Hyundai's extensive lineup for 2006 skew directly toward the American market -- such as Sonata, a mid-size sedan with V6 power that comes together at the Alabama plant. Azera pops up as Hyundai's elegant new flagship sedan for the USA, and Accent, smallest car in Hyundai's fleet, rolls out in a new design with segment-leading standard safety systems aboard.