US researchers filmed...
US researchers filmed the driving habits of 100 volunteers for a year, recording 82 crashes and 761 near-misses. Of those, 80 and 65 per cent respectively were due solely to driver distraction. Meanwhile, British insurers warn that motorists" cover could be at risk if an iPod is proven to have taken the driver"s attention.
Left exposed in broad...
Left exposed in broad daylight, the new Santa Fe"s sleek lines are a radical departure from the bulbous look of the existing version, and help take the model upmarket. Set to go on sale in the UK next autumn, the 4x4 will be available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. And the VGT - Variable Geometry Turbo - badge on the side of this car reveals it"s the 2.2-litre oil-burner, which is likely to be the top seller.
The new Santa Fe will be larger than the outgoing model in order to widen the gap between it and the smaller Tucson. The extra size has allowed engineers to fit a versatile seven-seat interior - making the off-roader a viable alternative to a full-size MPV.
Expect plenty of equipment as standard, too, while Hyundai"s pioneering five-year warranty will also be a major selling point. Prices have yet to be finalised, but more details are likely to be announced closer to the car"s official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year. Following the launch of the Santa Fe, Hyundai will then turn its attention to its larger 4x4s.
While the Terracan will continue unchanged until at least 2008, a new big off-roader is already being developed in the US to offer a cut-price alternative to Land Rover"s Discovery.