As the nation gears up for football season, Hyundai is once again joining in the action by sponsoring some of most popular college teams. This year, the Wisconsin Badgers have been added to the list as part of a 10-team expansion, bringing Hyundai's sponsorship total to 25 powerhouse football programs. Like last season, the automaker will also partner with ESPN to be a presenting sponsor of the "College Football Live: Hyundai Thursday Night Kickoff" program, which will span 12 airings beginning on Sept. 6.
Hyundai's college football sponsorship will include on-site displays at 151 high-profile matchups throughout the 2012 season, with select events featuring an all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe that has been transformed into the Ultimate Tailgater Vehicle for pre- and post-game celebrations. The automaker will also be the presenting sponsor of Sports Illustrated's ongoing Show Your Loyalty Facebook contest, which asks fans to submit photos demonstrating their love for their college football team for a chance to be included in the weekly SI.com Super Fan gallery.
"A partnership between Hyundai and the Wisconsin Badgers is a natural fit because they both have such passionate supporters, and we hope to see some local fans on SI.com this year," said Mike Hogan, Sales Manager of Gentile Hyundai, a Racine, Wisconsin Hyundai dealership. "The new Santa Fe crossover will have the passenger space and efficiency to get your whole crew to Camp Randall Stadium with more comfort and less fuel, as well as enough cargo room for all the tailgating essentials."
Hyundai recently launched the third generation of its Santa Fe in two different forms. On sale now, the 2013 Santa Fe Sport is similar in size to the outgoing Santa Fe, but 266 pounds lighter. The 2013 Santa Fe, arriving on dealer lots in January, will have a longer wheelbase, creating room for a third row and a total of seven passengers.
Three new or revised powertrains will bring added power and fuel efficiency to the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe models. Coming standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Santa Fe Sport returns up to 33 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, an available 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the Sport model churns out 264 horsepower while still delivering up to 31 mpg when on the freeway. The longer-wheelbase Santa Fe, on the other hand, will receive a 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine, which is estimated by Hyundai to return a healthy 26 mpg on the highway.
Both the Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport feature new styling based on the company's Fluidic Sculpture design concept, which has already been applied to the latest Elantra and Sonata. Deep-set headlights wrap toward a pronounced character line on each side panel, while a chrome grille gives the vehicles a more aggressive look. To highlight its added interior space with more natural light, the Santa Fe incorporates a different side-window shape from the Sport model. Both vehicles, however, have received interior upgrades to maximize comfort and functionality, including options like heated rear seats and a panoramic sunroof.
"The swooping style of the new Santa Fe makes it look like it's in motion even when it's parked for tailgating, meaning it'll stand out in a crowd of Badger fans and their vehicles," added Hogan. "Plus, the option of heated seats for all passengers is a pretty appealing feature to enjoy after a chilly game in the late fall."
About Gentile Hyundai:
Gentile Hyundai has proudly served Wisconsin drivers for years with outstanding new and used Hyundai sales, service and parts. Featuring vehicles that range from the fuel-efficient Hyundai Accent all the way up to the luxurious Hyundai Genesis sedan, Wisconsin Hyundai drivers have come to rely on Gentile Hyundai for all their automotive needs. Visit their Hyundai dealership, located at 9503 Washington Avenue in Racine, or browse their online inventory at www.gentilehyundai.com. They can also be reached by phone at 866-994-9834 or found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GentileHyundaiWI.
