Who would have imagined a fewyears back that there would be so much interest in a new generation ofthe Hyundai Sonata that it would be totally justified for us to stay upuntil the early morning hours to write a post on the car... But timeschange, GM went in and out of bankruptcy protection, the Fiat Groupacquired Chrysler and surprise, surprise, Hyundai overtook the FordGroup in the first half of the year to become the world's fourthlargest automaker. So there you have it. But let's wind back back tothe Sonata. After more leaks than a New Orleans levy, the Korean maker formally introduced the four-door sedan in its home market today.
"TheSonata will set a new standard for world class mid-size sedans withstate-of-the-art technology, superior build quality and emotionaldesign," said Euisun Chung, Hyundai's Vice Chairman at the launchingceremony for the car in Seoul. "The new Sonata will raise Hyundai'sbrand values."
It mightnot be an Alfa Romeo, but compared to its dull and unimaginativepredecessors, we'd say that the sixth-generation Sonata makes a hugestep (call that a leap) forward in terms of design. Some will evenclaim that it clearly adopts styling cues from the so-called four-doorcoupe segment such as the swooping roofline and the stubby rear end,and they're probably right.
TheSonata also boasts a fresh interior with a contemporary styling that'sin line with the Korean firm's latest products such as the new Tucson that was revealed at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show.
Size-wisethe Sonata is 4,820mm long, 1,835mm wide and 1,470mm tall with awheelbase of 2,795mm making it a little longer and wider but slightlylower than the outgoing model.
The Sonata, which maybe sold under a different name in some regions (e.g. i40 in Europe),will be offered at launch in its home market with a 2.0-liter Theta IIMPi gasoline engine with 165HP and an LPG version that makes 144HP.Both engines are paired to a new six-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundaisaid that it plans to add 2.4 liter Theta II GDI gasoline engine to therange in January next year. This engine will be offered as standard onthe U.S. market model.
Allversions of the Sonata will be equipped with a standard Vehicle DynamicControl with Hill-start Assist Control and Brake Assist Systemfunctions. Other highlights include an available three-piece panoramicsunroof and a new Parking Guide System (PGS) that allows the driver toavoid obstacles during parallel parking or when driving in reverse - orso the company claims.
Hyundaisaid that it began developing the new Sonata in 2005 under the codenameYF with the project costing a total of 450 billion won (US$ 372million) to go from concept to production.
Thecompany plans to sell 60,000 units of the new Sonata in Korea thisyear. With the addition of production in its U.S. plant in Alabamaplant in early 2010 and in China the following year, Hyundai expectsthat number to raise to 450,000 units annually worldwide from 2011.
In South Korea, the new Sonata's prices range from 21.3 million Won to 25.95 million Won (US$17,600 to US$21,450). |
發表於 2009-9-21 10:38 AM
| 
