The all-new Hyundai Sonata has been revealed and will be on-sale in Australia towards the end of the year.
The all-new Hyundai Sonata has been teased and shown off at motor shows and has today been revealed and detailed in full. It will go on-sale in Australia towards the end of the year.
The design language sees the Sonata take on more of a premium look with Hyundai describing the design as Sensuous Sportiness – it was inspired by the Le Fil Rouge concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2018. Here’s how Hyundai describes it, “Sensuous Sportiness is defined by the harmony between four fundamental elements in vehicle design: proportion, architecture, styling and technology. Sonata has a distinct tension on the side using a harmonious blend of two sharp character lines and pure volumes. Concave and convex forms are also carefully orchestrated to provide a sexy, coupe-like character”.
More than its slinky new shape, the Hyundai Sonata is the first model to be built on the brand’s new third-generation platform which it claims offers increases strength and reduced weight.
“The Sonata holds a special significance for our company as one of the longest standing and most successful models in the global market,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division. “The new generation Sonata is a fully transformed vehicle packed with advanced personalisation technology, a new platform, and an array of ADAS technologies. We are confident that our customers will be pleasantly surprised with this innovative new model.”
On the inside, the dashboard boasts a 10.3-inch infotainment screen with split screen functionality and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which is customisable to suit different driving modes and preferences.
Sitting on the company’s third-generation platform, Hyundai claims the new platform “delivers a ground-breaking improvement in collision safety through the adoption of a multi-load path structure, ‘Hot Stamping,’ and super-high tensile steel plate. The sophisticated multi-load path structure increases the energy absorbed by the vehicle in a collision, improving safety with minimisation of collision impact delivery into the passenger cabin”. But we’ll wait to see what independent crash agencies have their say.
There are two engines to choose from, a 1.6 T-GDI (134kW and 264Nm) and a 2.5 GDI (142kW and 245Nm) both are matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Sonata will also be one of the brand’s first vehicles to make use of digital key functionality, meaning you’ll be able to use your smartphone to unlock and start the vehicle.
In terms of active safety, the Sonata will be available with an impressive array of features, like forward collision assist which will use radars, sensors and cameras for improved performance at high speeds. It will also offer a smart exit function which will warn if you try to open the door and a vehicle is approaching, and it also has a lane follow function which works at speeds up to 145km/h and is capable of keeping the car centred in the lane, and so much more.
Stay tuned as we get closer to the local launch for pricing, specs and full line-up details.
