Revealing: next-gen Hyundai Sonata pics
With only a few days left until Hyundai officially introduces the 2011 Sonata sedan in Korea, its images continue to surface to the web. After we have seen leaked photos of new Sonata sedan two days ago, we are bringing you another set of shots, that provide us with a bit more detailed sneak-peak preview of Sonata’s elegant interior lay-out.
In addition, here are a few close-up images of the 2011 Sonata that provide us a great look over the Hyundai’s latest “fluidic” design with sweeping and gently curved lines that have a distinctly European feel. [Phoosource: bobaedream]
Hyundai Sonata update:
Hyundai announced that next-generation Sonata will also be available with advanced wireless monitoring system, linked to a monitoring center. Dubbed Mozen Auto Care, the system controls car’s engine, transmission and other components for errors. When the system finds some kind of errors in the car, it informs the driver of the analysis results and provides directions to a nearby Hyundai service center.
Advanced Mozen Auto Care system, applied to new Hyundai Sonata, also keeps track of times when various components need to be replaced, the length of time the vehicle spends idling and fuel economy.
Update: Hyundai Sonata has made its official US debut at the L.A. Auto Show. Please browse through our Hyundai Blog to find more news and images.
Hyundai Sonata gallery:
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Beautiful, very modern yet classy (funky steering wheel)
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I don’t know if I like the line going across doors to the rear edge of the car. That makes car look a lot smaller than what it actually is. I would have been better if the line is more aggressivly tilted. I think all other latest editions of Hyundai have more aggresive side panel design than this.
Well, I have to wait and see this in person before making final comment on the overall design.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Dave: keep in mind that the above images are stretched vertically for some reason (camera setting, resizing error etc). so I think the side crease should be edgier. The stretch has seemed to turn the edge into a mere bump in the pic.
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I really like the design of this car,very modern and original steering wheel.I think this car is gonna make a crazy Sales.
Well done Hyundai
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I’ll take one with a full black interior anyday, this doensn’t look as upscale as the other sonata interior we saw without a roof. And i really hate how the dual tone dash carries onto the steering wheel. BTW. Is the hood supposed to look like its open or something?…ANYWAY…I still this this is a really nice car. Can’t wait to see it in person.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm
@ John : The hood is not fully closed you can tell from the side picture that the gap is getting bigger toward the front of it.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Some Infiniti cues on the dashboard buttons below the screen?
Also what’s the first car company that adopted the seat adjust like buttons on the dashboard?
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
J,
Volvo is pretty much the only company putting set adjustment buttons on the dash.
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I do not think that those are seat controls on the dash. It looks like they are A/C direction controls.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Yes thats what I meant, AC controls (like Volvos) not seat controls.
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
The car looks nice, but it’s hard to see proportions on these pics. I hope outward visibility is not obstructed by the high(?) beltline.
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 pm
This car needs BIGGER WHEELS.
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:38 pm
The car looks “squished” because uploading the pic to blogger screwed with the ratio. It looks like a 4:3 when it should be 3:2.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:33 am
Looks much nicer in person
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:08 am
They put the beige in the Azera and Genesis guys, I think this could sell well to people who “just have to” have lighter color interiors.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:57 am
Finally a new steering wheel design for Hyundai. Very nice. I think it is going to look even better with that metallic-ish trim on a black steering wheel.
That centre stack and gague display cluster HAS to be one of the nicest designs I have seen in a long time. Interior trim in black with metallic trim should provide a nice contrast.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:34 am
Ahh. I’m just reading all these comments on other forums that keep mentioning how people keep coming back to look at this to remove the image of the new Honda Accord Crosstour burned into their eyes. Could the timing get any better? Anyone heard anything about any delays that could keep this from the US until 2nd quarter or later next year?
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:37 am
The Gauge Cluster is Mercedesish, which is what I think they were going for. I personally think Mercedes and Aston Martin have the best gauge clusters in the Industry today. I see Aston in the Genesis Coupe gauge clusters, and if we do copy stuff, thats exactly what we should be copying.
SPOT ON HYUNDAI!!!!!!!!!!! SWEET!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:40 am
and Jaguar too. Actually the i20 is an Aston Gauge cluster copy, the Genesis Coupe is like Jaguar. Those New XK Gauge clusters are the best in the industry Hyundai took the essence of that in the Coupe and made them just as good yet unique.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:41 am
Hyundai Please Im begging you dont dissappoint me, becuase you have a guaranteed Accent sale coming in 12-18 months.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 am
@ Derrick G,
haha, couldn’t agree with you more. Saw that Honda ‘Grosstour’ and is simply a hideous mess.. Not sure what happened to some of the Honda designs but not really a fan any more.. Used to be a big fan of the NSX, and Integra but this Crosstour a joke?!
The Pontiac Aztec and BMW X6 to have some company in the Car Hall of Shame.. (Pains me to put BMW there cuz I’m a BIG fan of the blue/white propellor but it should not have been made)
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Smoke,
The gauge cluster is more 2010 Acura TL than Benz.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I think its a mix of both. The TL Gauges look cheaper than the Sonatas.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
[...] [Fotos: Hyundai-Blog] [...]
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I think this looks magnificent.
September 4th, 2009 at 4:51 am
Having sampled at least a dozen auto forum related sites for reaction to both the 2010 Tucson and 2011 YF Sonata, I believe Hyundai has successfully managed to push their brand perception upward.
Now we await the official launch and the anticipated test drive write-ups that will follow. I expect Hyundai to bring it!
September 4th, 2009 at 5:14 am
In addition to the overwhelmingly positive reception and comments that I have observed on numerous auto forums, are some other thoughts that come to mind, relative to the pundits who have reflected on how Hyundai is “copying” from this make or that. Craptrap!
Their braying about “copying” is evidence that Hyundai has broken through and is going Main Street in a Big Way! Plus, there isn’t one brand within the category that Hyundai competes in that doesn’t borrow from one or more design element. As long as it is tastefully done, I could give a rip!
It does seem that an upward shift in the Hyundai brand is taking shape among a growing number of online dwellers, which will spillover into the real world of asphalt.
For the very first time, many are imagining Hyundai as a premium brand, to the naysayers however, this is their worst possible nightmare, shattering forever their outdated, negative, stereotypical views of Hyundai which belong in the past.
The Genesis began the up shift of Hyundai’s brand, disproving the free wheeling pundits who had claimed no one would spend $33k Plus large for a Hyundai. Yeah, right!
September 4th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Exactly Pill, in some places its a full blown war between Hyundai haters and Sympathizers. Its a war over at Autospies and Winding Road right now. Though some Hyundai haters are changing their minds about us and saying “Hey, well it seems like they are doing a good job at trying to be upmarket, lets give them a chance here!!!”
September 4th, 2009 at 7:23 am
I see a lot of people wanting them to do something about the Accent considering the upmarket image of the brand. Some say make it an A2 or Merc A class, some say they want it to be a MINI killer, and some say kill it.
September 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Now that I think about it I think Hyundai made the right decision on not making a luxury brand. Just consider Lexus and Honda and Infiniti and Toyota etc.. Their lesser brand has kind of ceiling where they can no longer get better because of their luxury brand. Obviously they don’t want to make Toyotas that are more luxurious than the Lexuses. While at Hyundai there really is no limit on how luxurious a Sonata can become. Yes there is the Genesis, but it competes in different segments so each other models really don’t have that limit on how good they can be. And by having the default Hyundai brand, its almost guarenteed that there won’t be any money wasted on “the brand.”
September 4th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
to the best gauge cluster look, i say Jaguar. Jaguar is the best i’ve seen. Very classic yet very modern with greenish color.
September 5th, 2009 at 1:08 am
On the first day of pre-sales, the new Sonata sold approx. 12,000 units in Korea. That’s a big number as the #1-selling car in Korea (usually the old Sonata the the Elantra) sells about 8,000 units PER MONTH.
12,000 people ponied up 20,000+ dollars to buy a car they haven’t seen, driven, or even read a brochure about in a single day!!! wild!!!
September 8th, 2009 at 3:26 am
Further to Huey’s comment above, as of today, Sept 8, hearing pre order sales to be approaching 30,000 units!
This would be in excess of 3 months sales so some amazing numbers on home turf.. Will be interesting to see if these numbers come into fruition..
September 8th, 2009 at 4:17 am
THIS IS SOOO F****** HOT!! I JUST PRAY THIS BLOWS MY BROTHER OFF HIS FEET.ANY WAY THIS CAR NEEDS BIGGER WHEELS. NICE JOB HYUNDAI..
September 8th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
@ Alex S. and Huey,
Where did you all get those numbers from?
September 8th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
ko: good question. whisper numbers from an auto analyst friend (he works in Korea covering HMC/Kia)..
September 9th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I love the center console!
September 9th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
This will the START of a line of Hyundai best seller vehicles if they keep this up.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
…I still think the grille is too big.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:42 am
@ ko…
I live in Korea and found the numbers on a Korean car site (www.bobaedream.co.kr). Here is the direct link the the article (in Korean).
http://bobaedream.co.kr/board/data/data_view.php?code=national&No=135918&page=1&select=Body&content=예약&r_no=12&search_gubun=&s_pagescale=&search_day=&Answer=29
September 11th, 2009 at 5:09 am
In addition, Hyundai has delayed the launch of the car here in Korea from Sept. 10 to Sept. 17. No reason for the delay was given.
There is a teaser site available here: http://sonata.hyundai.com/
When the site first opened, it featured a D-(x) countdown timer, but on the day all the pics leaked to the web, the timer was changed to just “coming soon” which I actually thought meant they would push the release ahead, but instead, the opposite happened.
The site just shows a “customer response/reaction” video. And FYI, the token non-Korean in the video is NOT me. lol
September 11th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
@ Huey,
Thanks for the information.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Behold: The 2011 Sonata Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUWABzMYgLc