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Show The Park Record C-18 Wed/Thur/Fri. December 8-10, 20040 W ith the Tucson sport-ulility vehicle joining its Santa Fe sibling, Hyundai apparently intends to .show the competition how The West was won. 'Hie company's penchant for naming its small utcs alter places with a colorful \Yild West history also makes them memorable with the public. The Santa l'e has, in a lew. short years, become one of the top-selling members of a fraternity of vehicles that just keeps on expanding. The addition of the entry-level 'lucson to the lineup for 2005 (a similar model from Hyundaiowned Kia wearing the Spoilage label is set to arrive later this year) will no doubt help the Korean automaker corner the market at the car-based end of the segment. Using the FJantra sedan's platform as its starting point. Hyundai has fashioned an attractive wagon-style body for the 'lucson, with a massive blackcd-out from bumper and fascia that at least appears as though it could challenge California's Rubicon Trail, the ultimate lest site for the off-road crowd. Available matching body cladding also surrounds the wheel openings and stretches along the bottom of the 'fucson's four doors. With minimal front and rear overhang and nearly eight inches of ground clearance, this rig lias an all-business, yet welcoming appearance that should appeal to all sorts of customers. Hyundai customers are also going to have some tough choices to make, especially when measuring the Tucson against the more experienced Santa Fe. Although seven inches shorter in overall length, the newcomer's wheelbase is actually slightly longer and the body is nearly as wide. When it comes to cargo volume, however, the Santa Fc comes out on top by a wide margin. Ondcr the Tucson's stubby nose is a choice of two powerplants. Base GL-des- ignaled models run with a 140-horsepower four-cylinder engine conneeled to a livespeed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic with manual-shift capabilities. The GI.S and top-of-the-linc LX get a 2.7-litcr \ 6 with 17.S horses on tap. With this motor, the automatic transmission is your only pick. All models begin with front-wheel drive, but can be equipped with an electronic four-wheel-drive setup that sends up to 50-percent of the torque to the rear wheels should a lack of traction warrant such action. At the push of a dashboardmounlcd button, the driver can also lock the drive system, splitting the power between the wheels on a 50 50 basis. At this point the Tucson appeal's to have at least as much going for it as its domestic and import-based*competition. Hut what really and truly separates this lough little number from the rest of the pack is a list of standard features that would do a luxury car proud. Fora starting point of around Si /,500 you gel air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock", stability control, six-speaker audio system with CD player, roof rack side rails, rear wiper and power windows, door locks and heated power outside mirrors. The equall) impressive level of basic safely features includes front, side-impact and side-curtain airbags fora total of six such protective devices. Again, we repeal, all of the above is standard equipment. The GLS and L.\ ice up the cake even further with added exlerior trim, fog lights, premium sound systems, fancier trim and, in the case of the LX. leather seats. When you factor in Hyundai's extralong five-year basic warrant), the Tucson looks to be an even more remarkable buy and a powerful alternative to some of the more established sport-utes, in more ways SPEC SHEET 2 2005 Hyundai Tucson •Four-door front-/four-wheel-drive sportutility vehtele, available in GL, GLS and LX trim. *2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder, or optional 27-liter DOHC V6, developing 140 and 173 horsepower, respectively. •Five-speed manual, or oplional fourspeed automatic transmission (std, on V6). •A-The all-new Tucson gives Hyundai two sporl-utes among a growing list of compact-sized models geared more for badroading than off-roading •Both base and optional engines offer plenty of power, but provide the kind of fuel economy that puts larger machinery to shame. •Base-model Tucsons are packed with an exceptional array of standard content that will make it tough for buyers to ignore. •Safety: Front airbags; side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes; stability control. • M P G (clty/hwy): 19/24 (V6 4x4) • B a s e price: $17,500 IIKIII one. 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