CHRIS BENNETT attended the release of the new Hyundai ix35 last week.
SOUTH Coasters were given a preview last week of the new Hyundai ix35, an interesting car which is likely to see the future of what we normally associate with 4x4 vehicles.
The ix35 is one of the new ‘crossover’ breed. This term was coined by the motor industry to describe what is essentially a 4x4 with two-wheel drive, in this case the front wheels.
The ix series of cars includes the smaller ix 20 and the ix30.
Dealer principle of Hyundai, Shelly Beach, Johann Venter looked understandably pleased with the car.
The crossover idea was largely a product of market resistance to the older style 4x4s, which were heavy, and in the case of the Hummer, gross. People were keen on a strong car, big enough to carry the family and its kit, but were not so keen on the brutish and extravagant image projected by 4-wheel drive.
We need to use a lot less petrol, and two-wheel drive is a step (or should that be roll?) in the right direction.
Hyundai is the world's largest car company by profit, the world’s fourth largest by units sold and the world's fastest growing manufacturer of cars.
Wherefore the ‘y’?
The name Hyundai is pleasant on the western ear but a little less so to the eye. It should be pronounced with the y as an Afrikaans j, and rhymes with Sunday.
The original engineering company was founded in 1947, and Hyundai Motor Corporation twenty years later.
Just as the Japanese outstripped American and European cars in the latter half of the 20th century, the Korean giant has made huge inroads and is now a major league player.
The Hyundai Motor Company is a major sponsor of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and so the timing of the release of this new vehicle is perfect for this country. The car made its debut a couple of months ago in
I have not yet driven the car and await the chance eagerly.
The ix35 is seeking, as are all crossover cars, a balance between the 4x4 and two-wheel drive, offering the customer a choice and taking his personal taste into account.
The ix35, which Dave Abrahams of the Independent Group of newspapers as an “urban cruiser, more road-orientated than the
Apart from the benefit of better road-holding, this gives the car an edge of elegance over a 4x4. The car’s appearance is enhanced by the crisp, clean lines, and the sensible use of a ‘hip’, which does away with the slabby look.
The back of the car is hugely practical and the rear-door is attractive and looks right. It works best if you unlock it, as three enthusiasts found out last week at the Shelly Beach launch when they all struggled to open the locked hatch.
All in all, a very neat car at a comparatively sensible price.
The Hyundai ix35 is available in two-wheel or four-wheel drive, with the usual range of engine sizes, from Hyundai Motors in Shelly Beach (039 315 0902). It is priced from R239 900.
CB
No comments:
Post a Comment