Redesigned 2015 Sonata To Offer Hybrid and Plug-In Variants
Hyundai’s second most important new vehicle this year, after the just-recently introduced 2015 Genesis sedan, is the all-new Sonata sedan (codenamed LF).
Set to make its official public premiere at the New York Auto Show in April, the new Sonata will incorporate the carmaker’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design (an upgrade of the original Fluidic Sculpture styling philosophy) and new powertrain technology.
Sonata Hybrid Car Confirmed
New Hyundai Sonata will offer a range of gasoline four-cylinder engines.
There will be a 2,0L turbo variant available, as well as a more environmental friendly hybrid variant with improved fuel economy ratings.
The eco-friendly Sonata hybrid will get the upgraded powertrain of the current hybrid model and will be released to the market during the first half of 2014.
The Sonata LF Hybrid model will first go on sale in South Korea, while U.S. sales are rumored to commence several months later.
Sonata Plug-In Model Confirmed
Hyundai is hard at work to expand their current green car portfolio with their first-ever plug-in vehicle.
The new Sonata plug-in vehicle is being developed along the new Kia Optima sedan, which will share its powertrain technology with the Hyundai sibling.
The plug-in version of the Sonata is rumored to go on sale in 2016 if not earlier.
Next Sonata To Reduce Weight
To achieve better fuel economy, cars need to loose some of their weight. And that’s exactly what Hyundai intends to do in order to boost the MPG numbers of the 7th generation Sonata sedan.
We have learned that the South Korean automaker will more than double the proportion of lighter high strength steel used in the upcoming model.
In particular, the new Sonata will become the very-first Hyundai model to use more than 50 percent of high tensile steel.
The current ratio of high-strength steel used in Hyundai and Kia vehicles is at about 21 percent, with one exception, the all new 2015 Genesis, which uses around 40 percent of high-strength steel.
The larger use of high tensile steel in new Sonata will result in reduced weight (by 10%) and lower fuel consumption, states Hyundai Motor Company.
