Geneva Motor Show 2004 - Hyundai

This is Hyundai’ new Tucson 4x4, a budget rival to the Land Rover Freelander, which was on display at the Geneva Motor Show. The five-door off-roader goes on sale this autumn costing from around £13,500.

Front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive variants will be offered. On four-wheel-drive models, power is only sent to the front wheels unless the 4wd system detects a loss of traction, although permanent four-wheel drive can be selected at the touch of a button at speeds of up to 19mph.

Three engines will be available: 2.0-litre petrol and diesel units and a range-topping 2.7-litre V6 petrol, all matched to a standard five-speed manual gearbox or optional four-speed automatic.

Four-wheel-drive versions could cost around £1000 more than the most basic front-drive models, but the Hyundai should still undercut the cheapest five-door Freelander by around £3500, Honda’s CR-V by £2000 and the Toyota RAV4 by £1500.

Specification has yet to be confirmed, but the Tucson is likely to have alloy wheels, air-conditioning, remote central locking, six airbags, anti-lock brakes, electric windows and mirrors and a CD player as standard. The rear seats can be folded flat by pressing a single lever.

Hyundai also put a fuel-cell version of the Tuscon, called FCEV. The ultra-clean engine emits only water and enables the car to reach 93mph. Hyundai says the concept is production-ready and is keen to begin building it soon.

The E3 concept car is midway in size between the Accent small car and Elantra family car, and Hyundai says it could go into production within two years. It features reverse-hinged rear doors like those used on Mazda’s RX-8.

Hyundai also announced that the metal-roofed convertible version of its latest-generation Coupe will go into production in 2007 or early 2008.