mikeyb
05-13-2006, 01:16 PM
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.mesa.f34.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.mesa.r34.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.int1.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.meda.int2.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.int3.500.jpg
When Santa Fe just isn't big enough
It will be Hyundai's biggest vehicle to date and rising gas prices won't stop its arrival. It's likely to be called the 2008 Hyundai Mesa and judging from our spy photos it will be more than just big, it will be one of the most upscale vehicles in the Korean automaker's lineup.
Designed to slot above the new 2007 Santa Fe, the Mesa will fit somewhere between most current mid- and full-size SUVs in terms of its size. The name debuted on an oversize Kia SUV concept at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, but Hyundai may pull rank on its partner company and use "Mesa" first.
Our fearless spy shooters measured the wheelbase of the prototype at 113.6 inches. That's nearly a foot longer than a Honda Pilot and only 3 inches shy of a Chevrolet Tahoe. So much space between the wheels should make for a decent amount of room between the three rows of seats while a more modest overall length of around 186 inches (Tahoe is 202 inches) will keep it garage-friendly.
Power will come from the same 3.8-liter V6 used in the Azera. It makes 263 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque in that application, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it tweaked for even more power in the Mesa. Coupled to a five-speed automatic, a 280-hp Mesa would be a solid performer. An on-demand all-wheel-drive system will be optional on this front-wheel-drive crossover.
Interior photos show a cabin design similar to the current Lexus RX 350 with large vertical vents framing a cascading center stack. Lexus uses metallic coloring to highlight its vents while Hyundai is going with the opposite color scheme by layering the entire stack with a metallic finish. To add even more color there's wood trim across the entire dash and slivers of chrome outlining the center console. The steering wheel also gets its share of metallic trim as well as a full array of satellite audio and climate control buttons.
Expect to see the official debut of this new Hyundai SUV later this year with U.S. sales beginning early next year.
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http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.mesa.r34.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.int1.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.meda.int2.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/features/future/08.hyundai.mesa/08.hyundai.int3.500.jpg
When Santa Fe just isn't big enough
It will be Hyundai's biggest vehicle to date and rising gas prices won't stop its arrival. It's likely to be called the 2008 Hyundai Mesa and judging from our spy photos it will be more than just big, it will be one of the most upscale vehicles in the Korean automaker's lineup.
Designed to slot above the new 2007 Santa Fe, the Mesa will fit somewhere between most current mid- and full-size SUVs in terms of its size. The name debuted on an oversize Kia SUV concept at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, but Hyundai may pull rank on its partner company and use "Mesa" first.
Our fearless spy shooters measured the wheelbase of the prototype at 113.6 inches. That's nearly a foot longer than a Honda Pilot and only 3 inches shy of a Chevrolet Tahoe. So much space between the wheels should make for a decent amount of room between the three rows of seats while a more modest overall length of around 186 inches (Tahoe is 202 inches) will keep it garage-friendly.
Power will come from the same 3.8-liter V6 used in the Azera. It makes 263 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque in that application, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it tweaked for even more power in the Mesa. Coupled to a five-speed automatic, a 280-hp Mesa would be a solid performer. An on-demand all-wheel-drive system will be optional on this front-wheel-drive crossover.
Interior photos show a cabin design similar to the current Lexus RX 350 with large vertical vents framing a cascading center stack. Lexus uses metallic coloring to highlight its vents while Hyundai is going with the opposite color scheme by layering the entire stack with a metallic finish. To add even more color there's wood trim across the entire dash and slivers of chrome outlining the center console. The steering wheel also gets its share of metallic trim as well as a full array of satellite audio and climate control buttons.
Expect to see the official debut of this new Hyundai SUV later this year with U.S. sales beginning early next year.
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