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As gas prices reach record highs, Hyundai plans to bring more fuel efficient cars and   SUVs to American market. According to John Krafcik, vice president of product plannig for Hyundai Motor America, the company is focusing on fuel-efficient cars and also plans to add new engines with improved fuel efficency to their models.

Hyundai will be adding its second generation Theta engine to the Santa Fe crossover, when it receives a facelift in 2010. The same four-cylinder engine is already avaliable in the 2009 Sonata sedan and recent reviews has proven the engine to deliever plenty of power and a class leading fuel efficency numbers. The 2.4L Theta engine in Sonata is rated at 22MPG city driving, and 32MPG when highway driving.

As of now, Hyundai’s four-cylinder powerplants were imported from South Korea, but starting from next month, all of the four-bangers will be coming from Hyundai’s new engine plant in Alabama.

In addition to the new engine, the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe will also get a six-speed automatic transmission.

For 2010, Hyundai also plans to unveil a fully redesigned Tucson SUV. Currently, the Tucson comes avaliable with a 2.7L V6 engine, but when the new model debuts, the gas-guzzling unit will be dropped in favor to a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.   [Source: Autoweek]