CHICAGO, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The new 2007 Hyundai Entourage minivan made its world debut today at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. With its unprecedented combination of unsurpassed standard safety, comfort and convenience matched with a powerful engine and outstanding quality backed by Hyundai's 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, this new star in Hyundai's lineup is sure to attract a following. A well-equipped 2007 Entourage will be priced at $23,795(1), more than $1,500 less than a Honda Odyssey LX.

Entourage is the first vehicle with the Hyundai Hideaway(TM) third-row seat, a simple-to-use 60/40 split fold-into-the floor seat offering flexibility for up to seven passengers. At 202 inches long and 78.1 inches wide, the new Entourage is truly full-size. In fact, these larger dimensions and efficient packaging deliver an interior volume of 172 cubic feet -- more than Honda Odyssey.

Hyundai packed the all-new Entourage with the industry's most effective safety technologies, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), anti-whiplash active front head restraints and six airbags including side air curtains, which help protect occupants in all three rows during side impacts. Entourage is expected to earn the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) top five-star crash test rating for front and side impacts.

UNSURPASSED SAFETY

The all-new 2007 Entourage continues Hyundai's leadership in standardizing the industry's most effective safety technologies. The new Entourage features six standard airbags, including side air curtains for all three rows of seats. The combination of side and curtain airbags, which help protect the head and body during side impacts, can reduce fatalities by more than 45 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

In addition, all Entourage trim levels come standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), one of the industry's most effective life-saving technologies. ESC compares the driver's intended course with the vehicle's actual response. ESC then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help correct understeer or oversteer. IIHS studies show vehicles equipped with ESC experience 56 percent fewer fatalities in single-vehicle crashes. Entourage joins Santa Fe, Tucson, Sonata and Azera as vehicles in Hyundai's growing lineup with standard Electronic Stability Control -- a commitment to this sophisticated and effective automotive safety technology that is unmatched by any other non-luxury automotive brand.

Front (11.7-in.) and rear (11.9-in.) disc brakes are standard and are coupled with a four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that includes Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) to optimize brake performance even with differing vehicle loading.

All seating positions feature three-point seatbelts and adjustable head restraints. Front seat active head restraints help prevent whiplash by automatically reducing the space between a front occupant's head and the head restraint during a rear collision, and are highly recommended by safety-focused organizations such as IIHS.

Convenient Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) points allow child seats to be secured in the second- and third-row seats.

Additional standard safety equipment includes a high-line tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), which alerts drivers if one or more tires are under inflated.

EFFICIENT INTERIOR

The all-new 2007 Entourage is one of the most comfortable and convenient minivans on the market. Hyundai accomplished this by appointing Entourage with a refined interior design and highly desired standard features. The new 2007 Entourage offers power dual rear sliding doors with power windows, adjustable conversation mirror and a foldaway center tray table with four cupholders standard. All Entourages have a premium HVAC system with dual front climate controls and separate second-row controls and rear-seat vents for both the second- and third-row passengers. For drivers, there are folding sideview mirrors, tilt wheel steering and optional power adjustable pedals. The interior is finished with a two-tone color scheme with woodgrain or metalgrain accents. Luxurious leather seats are standard in the Limited model, as are a power tailgate, heated front seats and an electroluminescent instrument cluster. A rear-seat entertainment system with an eight-inch LCD monitor, backup warning sensors and Infinity(R) AM/FM/CD-changer/MP3 audio system with Logic 7(R) surround sound take passenger comfort to the next level.

Adding to Entourage's space and versatility, flip and fold second-row seats provide easy access to the Hyundai Hideaway(TM) third-row seat. The Hyundai Hideaway(TM) third-row seat is a new, simple-to-operate 60/40 split fold-into-the-floor design that is standard on all models.

V6 ENGINE

Entourage's modern all-aluminum 3.8-liter DOHC 24-valve standard V6 engine produces 242 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque placing it at the top of the minivan segment. Entourage has more standard horsepower than the Ford Freestar, Chevrolet Uplander and Dodge Caravan, and more torque than the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Dodge Grand Caravan. Even with its impressive output, the Entourage is also environmentally friendly and achieves Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification levels. Married to the technically advanced V6 is an equally advanced five-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC(R) manual control.

PURPOSE-BUILT PLATFORM

The Entourage rides on a purpose-built unibody minivan platform with a 118.9-inch wheelbase and a 66.3-inch track width that is longer and wider than the competition. This chassis was specifically designed to deliver a rewarding ride. Thanks to the suspension geometry and wide track width (which enables greater turn angles), Hyundai engineers were able to give Entourage an impressive, tight turning diameter of 39.6 feet for parking situations and U-turns.

Entourage's four-wheel independent suspension system is comprised of MacPherson struts with coil springs and a stabilizer bar in the front, while the rear suspension uses a multi-link design with coil springs and a stabilizer bar. Engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering also contributes to the Entourage's solid handling dynamics.

HYUNDAI VALUE

A well-equipped 2007 Entourage, with standard Electronic Stability Control, six airbags, anti-whiplash active front head restraints, TPMS, 3.8-liter V6 engine, roof rack rails, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, front wiper deicer and tri-zone climate controls system will be priced at $23,795 (1), more than $1,500 less than a Honda Odyssey LX. Add in the assurance provided by America's Best Warranty(TM) and it's clear that minivan shoppers have a new gold standard minivan to consider.

MODEL LINEUP

The Hyundai Entourage comes in three distinct trim levels: The well-equipped GLS, high-value SE and premium Limited.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 695 dealerships nationwide.

Journalists are invited to visit our news media web site: www.hyundainews.com

(1) Excludes freight charges