SANTA MONICA, California — In an effort to increase the fuel efficiency of its lineup, Hyundai will offer a 2.4-liter four-cylinder power plant in the redesigned Santa Fe SUV, due for 2010. The Santa Fe is normally offered with a choice of V6s, either a 2.7 liter or a 3.3 liter.
The DOHC inline-4 engine, code-named Theta, debuted this year in the 2009 Hyundai Sonata sedan, where it makes 175 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque. John Krafcik, Hyundai America vice president of product planning, said in an interview with Automotive News that the new engine will be available with a six-speed automatic transmission. In a Sonata with an automatic transmission, the new engine returns 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
Krafcik also said that the Tuscon, the Santa Fe's little brother, will also be equipped only with four-cylinder engines when it is redesigned in either 2010 or 2011. It is possible that one of the variants will be turbocharged.
Hyundai presently imports its four-cylinders from Korea, but a new plant in Alabama will begin production of four-cylinder engines later this month.
What this means to you: Apparently these high fuel prices aren't going away, and Hyundai wants to be ready. — Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor
The DOHC inline-4 engine, code-named Theta, debuted this year in the 2009 Hyundai Sonata sedan, where it makes 175 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque. John Krafcik, Hyundai America vice president of product planning, said in an interview with Automotive News that the new engine will be available with a six-speed automatic transmission. In a Sonata with an automatic transmission, the new engine returns 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
Krafcik also said that the Tuscon, the Santa Fe's little brother, will also be equipped only with four-cylinder engines when it is redesigned in either 2010 or 2011. It is possible that one of the variants will be turbocharged.
Hyundai presently imports its four-cylinders from Korea, but a new plant in Alabama will begin production of four-cylinder engines later this month.
What this means to you: Apparently these high fuel prices aren't going away, and Hyundai wants to be ready. — Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor
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