Just weeks before its arrival in New Zealand, Hyundai's exciting new Sante Fe R-Series diesel family wagon has demonstrated just how economic the model is after two grueling days of high-temperature competition over almost 1000km in the Global Green Challenge at Tennant Creek in Australia's Northern Territory. A team of Hyundai Santa Fe R turbo-diesels smashed their official fuel economy rating by an impressive 21.23 per cent.

Temperatures hovered near 40 degrees Celsius at the Tennant Creek refueling point, where the Hyundai Team R Santa Fe, driven by former Australian rally champion Ed Ordynski and motoring journalist John Cadogan, returned an outstanding overall fuel consumption figure of 5.24L/100km. The Team R Santa Fe driven by News Limited journalists Chris Riley and Keith Didham returned 5.28L/100km.

"For an SUV as robust and practical as the new Santa Fe to deliver less than six litres per 100 kilometres on one of the Australian outback's toughest roads is truly outstanding," said Ed Ordynski, former Australian champion rally driver. "This proves that considerable cost savings and an impressive environmental benefit is certainly achievable - without compromising practicality - when you combine the right technology in a modern turbo-diesel vehicle with conservative driving techniques."

The new Santa Fe comes with Hyundai's 2.2L R Diesel engine that produces a maximum output of 147kW and peak torque of 437 Nm between 1800 and 2500 rpm. This new engine sees the Sante Fe diesel become 32% more powerful and yet 10% more efficient than the previous incarnation.

A new petrol model is also available to New Zealand buyers in the form of the Theta-II 2.4 four-cylinder engine. Powered by the Theta-II 2.4 with 4WD and the new six-speed automatic, the Santa Fe produces just 210g/km of CO2, significantly better than the 252g emitted by the previous generation V6 2.7, equating to a 17% reduction.

Hyundai New Zealand Executive Director Philip Eustace said the results in Australia were extraordinary and demonstrated that all the talk about the new Sante Fe R-Series just wasn't PR hype.

"We've been talking up the arrival of this new Sante Fe and these results in the Northern Territory certainly speak for themselves. What is even more amazing is that these results were delivered in temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius and in 'real world' driving conditions," says Philip Eustace, Hyundai New Zealand Executive Director.

"We're certainly excited to get the Sante Fe here in New Zealand to show the kiwi motoring public just how versatile and economic this model really is and also to demonstrate that it is one of the cleanest and greenest diesel vehicles available on the market - this vehicle is going to bust all the myths about diesel engines." "For the moment these Australian results speak for themselves, though it is only a matter of weeks before kiwis can see it for themselves." ended Eustace.

The Hyundai team R Santa Fe SUVs face more than 2000 kilometres of Stuart Highway, and a demanding urban stage in Adelaide over the remaining five days of the Global Green Challenge.