Next-gen 2011 Hyundai and Kia 2011 caught by the long lenses of Automotive Traveler.

While the big scoop yesterday was getting what might have been the first shots of the 2011 BMW 540 testing in the US, that wasn't the only test mule caught by our long lens. Just across the parking lot were what appeared to be two more prototypes, the next Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage. Unlike their German counterparts, the engineers from Kia and Hyundai clearly didn't want me taking photos of their test mules and made it obvious that while I was in a public area, that they didn't want me getting any closer. (Normally, to avoid embarrassment, I try to not include the engineers in the photos but these guys were quite persistent in trying to block my shot so I had no alternative but to include them. Sorry guys.)

The next Hyundai Tucson, expected in the US in the second half of 2010 as a 2011 model, will pick up a number of styling cues from the larger Veracruz that has been a strong success in the US market. As Hyundai continues to take all its models more upscale, while retaining their current value pricing, is expected to feature an interior (these guys wouldn't let me get close enough for a better look) that will probably send all its competitors back to the drawing boards. With fuel economy more important than ever, we are looking for a new high-efficiency turbocharged four-cylinder engine to be offered in the top models in the series. With the 2010 Chevy Equinox offering 32 MPG in its well-equipped four-cylinder model, we expect the Tucson to offer at least similar numbers.

Its platform mate, the next Kia Sportage, was a bit closer to me but its attending engineer, after I snapped this first frontal shot between its competitors--the Jeep Compass and Toyota RAV4--did what he could to block my shot to the heavily concealed rear of the vehicle. From what's already been reported on the Internet, especially from South Korean-based auto websites, the next more coupe-like Sportage, expected to debut in Korea in the first half of 2010 and come to the US later in the year as a 2011 model, will feature an new-for-Kia-and-Hyundai six-speed automatic transmission. It will probably be mated to new, more powerful four-cylinder engines, providing performance equal to or better than the current 173-horsepower V6.

From his positioning, it seems as if the engineer is trying very hard to conceal top secret rear tail lamp details. If you look closely both C-pillars in the higher-res photos in the Automotive Traveler image gallery, the Sportage is clearly styled differently than its Hyundai counterpart (and may indicate that photos that were attributed previously as a Sportage may have in fact been the Tucson). As I was fighting with the Hyundai and Kia guys trying to get a clear shot, I caught the 2011 BMW 540 out of the corner of my eye in the parking lot across the way and decided that while both Korean carmakers are currently on a roll, Automotive Traveler's readers would rather me spend my time snapping the Bimmer, whose engineers surprisingly may no effort to block my shots. Go figure.

For some additional views and details of the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage, you'll need to go check out Left Lane News who posted shots of the duo on Monday as well as the high-res versions of these four photos posted in the Automotive Traveler Hyundai and Kia spy photos image gallery.

	Want to be notified when we post new, exclusive spy photos? Register now.
	当我們張貼新，專屬間諜照片时，想要被通報？ 記數器
	Wil wanneer wij nieuwe, exclusieve spionfoto's worden meegedeeld posten? Register.
	Voulez être annoncé quand nous signalons de nouvelles, exclusives photos d'espion? Registre.
	Möchten mitgeteilt werden, wenn wir die neuen, exklusiven Spionfotos bekannt geben? Register.
	Voglia essere informato quando inviamo le nuove, foto esclusive della spia? Registro.
	私達が新しく、排他的なスパイの写真を掲示するとき知らせられたいと思いなさいか 記録.
	우리가 새로운, 독점적인 간첩 사진을 배치할 때 통지되고 싶으십시오? 기록기.
	Queira ser notificado quando nós afixamos fotos novas, exclusivas do espião? Registo.
	Те быть сообщенным когда мы вывешиваем новые, исключительные фото шпионки? Регистр.
	¿Quiera ser notificado cuando fijamos las fotos nuevas, exclusivas del espía? Registro.

Comments

Add New Search

<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >> << Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s Just thinking out loud: I can't seem to come up with a single reason why these engineers would think that being belligerent would be helpful to themselves or their employer. I bet there are at least a few unemployed engineers that might be more diplomatic. Is there really a car company out there that can afford to alienate even one potential customer? Fellas, if you did a crappy job with the camo, buy the time you are sitting n the middle of the desert, it's just too late. More than a few Americans are starting to rethink the welcome that has been extended to the imports. Whether that perception is reasonable or not, it seems like poor judgement to bolster that kind of thinking by acting as if they can ignore our right to freedom of the press, and more over to do so while using one of our national parks as the setting. Great timing too: maybe a look at the calendar with a brief lesson in American history would help. Happy 4th of July! ReplyQuote 1 4

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s Just commenting out loud: The folks posted by these photos without their consent are actually American citizens. If Rich (the fat guy wearing the yellow shirt who took these shots) was indeed a genuine person of the press, then he shold have been polite and acted professionally. Instead, he rudely shouted "Get out of the way..." when these folks were quietly working to prep the vehicles for next series of tests. GET A LIFE! ReplyQuote 3 1

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s He Rich, Freedom of press, site of picture taken at a National Park a few days before 4th of July, the fact that all of the American vehicles are built mostly with parts from the lowest bidding suppliers that are str---I am a worthless spammer---ling, and your obscure knowledge of American history doesn't make up for your lack of deft talent of other well known automotive journalists nor covers up that thick foreign accent of yours. You only have these sorry looking photos to show for and blame it other people for your substandard pictures of the prototypes. Maybe you would have been better off as a European tourist there. ReplyQuote 2 1

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s Nice picture of the Jeep Compass and of what looks like the front end of the Toyota. ReplyQuote 2 1

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s HELLO, ARE YOU THE SAME IDIOT THAT RISKED THE LIVES OF 3 CHRYSLER ENGINEERS WHILE YOU CHASED THEM DOWN THE STRETCH OF ROAD THAT THEY WERE TESTING AT JUST SO YOU CAN TAKE A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF THEIR VEHICLE? PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE NEXT TIME AND THINK OF THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. ReplyQuote 3 1

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s 1st time ever for a spy photo post to get political for no particular reason. If it wasn't for non-domestics to write interesting stories about and take pictures of, then you wouldn't have a job. Think about that... ReplyQuote 2 1

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s Meh. There are better pictures elsewhere. What happened? Did they punch you in the face or something for sneaking these shots? ReplyQuote 3 1

Anonymous |Y-m-d H:i:s pictures look staged somehow ReplyQuote 2 1

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
UBBCode:	-color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Joomla components by Compojoom