2011 Kia Sportage Compact SUV Spied Inside and Out

Kia is continuing the development of its next generation Sportage that is scheduled to enter the market in the first half of 2010. Our spies captured a camouflaged prototype of the compact SUV in Germany giving us a taste of the Sportage silhouette and interior styling. As you may have already guessed, the 2011 Sportage (or 2010, depending on which side of the Atlantic you're located) is based on the new Hyundai ix35 utilizing the same platform and hardware.

At least in what concerns the European market model, the next Sportage will most likely be offered with the same engine line up as the Hyundai Tucson's replacement.

That said, European buyers should expect three diesels including a new 1.7-liter unit rated at 115hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, and 136HP and 184HP versions of the Korean firm's 2.0-liter 'R' turbo diesel.

The gasoline engine range should consists of the Hyundai- Kia Group's forthcoming 1.6-liter GDI direct-injection four-pot that makes 140 hp and 123 lb-ft. of torque and a more powerful 2.0-liter unit with 166HP and 145 lb-ft.

Categories: Hyundai Tucson - ix35, Kia, Kia Scoops, Kia Sportage, Scoops

Official Pictures of 2011 Hyundai Sonata Leak on the Web

The first set of official photos of the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata YF made the rounds today on several Korean forums revealing more details on the mid-size sedan's styling. As predicted, Hyundai's Mazda6 and VW Passat challenger incorporates a more dramatic design language than the current model featuring a four-door-coupe-like roofline and a stubby rear-end.

Although it is most likely that these photos depict the U.S. and Asian market model, the European version that will potentially be named ix40, shouldn't differ much - we suspect that the only significant change will concern the replacement of the Klingon-like front grille with something more in the lines of the new Tucson / ix35's grille.

The single interior photo shows the 2011 Sonata's instrument panel that houses a pair of deeply set gauges separated by small color screen.

We'll have to wait for the official reveal to learn details about the engine range, but four-cylinder and V6 gasoline units are almost guaranteed while the European range will also include Hyundai's a choice of four-banger turbo diesels such as the 2.0-liter four-pot with 185 horsepower.

We expect to see the new Sonata making its world debut before the end of the year and to arrive in dealerships on both sides of the Atlantic sometime during the first half of 2010.

UPDATE: Hyundai Releases Official Sketches

Via: Bobaedream

Categories: Hyundai, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Tucson - ix35, New Cars, Scoops

Hyundai iX35: Tucson's Replacement Caught Completely Undisguised!

New photographs of the Hyundai iX35 that is set to replace the Tucson have made their way into the webosphere. And unlike previous spy shots that showed the vehicle under heavy camouflage, this time the iX35 has been captured completely undisguised finally revealing the styling bound for Hyundai's new compact SUV. While the production car is less dramatic than the ix-onic concept shown in Geneva earlier this year, the iX35 looks a great deal more attractive and distinct than the current Tucson.

On the outside, the most noticeable changes over the concept concern the more conventional styling of the iX35's rear end. However, overall, it appears that Hyundai's designers remained faithful to the original concept.

As for the interior, we only have one shot of the instrument cluster that features a pair of deeply set gauges - just like the ix-onic.

The new iX35 (we're not sure yet if Hyundai will adopt the same alphanumeric naming system for the North American model), shares its underpinnings with the next-generation Kia Sportage which is also under development.

Hyundai's RAV-4 challenger will be offered with the option of front- or all-wheel drive while the engine line-up is said to include two newly developed 1.6-liter gasoline engines with direct injection delivering 140 HP (naturally aspirated) and 175 HP (turbocharged) as well as a new 2.0-liter diesel with 184 horsepower.

Pics via: Jokeforblog

Categories: Hyundai, Hyundai Tucson - ix35, Hyundai Tuscon, Scoops

2010 Hyundai Tucson Spied Working Out, will get New 1.6-liter Direct Injection Engines

By the end of the year, Hyundai is expected to have swiped the covers off two very important models for the company's future - the 2011 Sonata mid-size sedan, pictures of which we showed you earlier today, and the second generation Tucson SUV that could be revealed as early as this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Even though Hyundai has tried its best to hide the Tucson's styling with a plastic "body armor", these latest scoop photos imply that the exterior design of the crossover will be less radical than this year's Geneva show ix-onic concept model.

Moving on to interior, our spy shots suggest that Hyundai's new contender in the key compact SUV segment will boast a more upscale interior with a more attractive design for the dashboard. Better materials should also be in the mix.

Sharing the same platform architecture with the new Kia Sportage that is currently under development, the 2010 Tucson will be offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive layouts.

According to our sources, Hyundai plans to offer the Tucson with two newly developed 1.6-liter direct injection petrol engines including a naturally aspirated version with an output of 140HP that will also power the Veloster Coupe, and a turbocharged variant with around 175 horsepower that was previewed on the concept model. However, our people did not confirm if these powerplants would be available upon launch or at a later date.

Diesel lovers won't be let down either as the Tucson's engine line-up will also include a couple of oil burners such as the 2.0-liter 'R' unit that makes 184 horsepower and 400Nm of torque.

Hyundai's new Toyota RAV-4 rival that is rumored to be renamed to iX35 in many markets, should arrive in Europe by year's end, followed by North America in early 2010.

Categories: Hyundai, Hyundai Tucson - ix35, Hyundai Tuscon, Scoops

Spied: 2010 Hyundai Tucson Compact SUV Development Continues

If our sources are correct, we will be seeing the next-generation Hyundai Tucson making its world debut this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show with sales beginning in Europe and Korea before the end of the year and in North America, sometime during the first half of 2010. In the meantime, Hyundai is continuing to develop the Tucson which was captured here out in Death Valley by Automotive Traveler's Rich Truesdell.

The prototype models are still under heavy camouflage but Hyundai gave us a taste of the styling direction it plans to take with the new Tucson in Geneva with the 'ix-onix' concept study (see pics below).

Eyeing Toyota's RAV-4 and Honda's CR-V, the Korean firm's compact SUV will most likely carry the iX35 moniker at least in Europe and it will be offered with various petrol and diesel engine options including the final production version of the concept vehicle's 175HP 1.6-litre turbocharged four-banger petrol.

Spy Photos: Automotive Traveler

Categories: Hyundai, Hyundai Tucson - ix35, Hyundai Tuscon, Scoops