Sneak peak of the eighth generation Hyundai Sonata ahead of order books opening
Hyundai Sime Darby Motors gave selected motoring media a sneak peak of the next all-new Hyundai Sonata which will be launched later this year. Malaysia will be the first market in South-East Asia to debut the D-segment saloon.
The eighth-generation Sonata is built on a new platform with a new all-aluminium engine. It has a sportier silhouette with a coupé-style roofline.
A chrome strip underlines the LED headlights and daytime running lights and runs parallel from the bonnet, along the shoulder line under the windows, to the C-pillar. Breathers on either side of the front grille are integrated into the front bumper. A chrome strip frames the breathers and connects them visually, running through the large grille, separating it into a larger upper section and a narrow lower section. A black skirt runs along the base of the body from front to rear to draw the eyes along the sporty lines. The crease lines on the body panels illustrate the “Sensuous Sportiness” design language
The C-shaped LED rear tail lamps feature fins at the top to channel airflow and improve aerodynamics from roofline.
The all-new naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre engine called Smartstream G2.5 is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Output from the multi-point injection engine is 178bhp with 232Nm of torque. 18-inch rims are standard. There’s no gear knob or lever. Gears are selected by pushing R, N, D or P on the gear console.
New features in the Sonata include a 12.3-inch full TFT-LCD digital instrument cluster with custom displays for the various drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport or Smart Eco. In Smart Eco mode, drive mode is selected autonomously in response to throttle input from the driver. Also new are the 10.25-inch (10.25″) navigation infotainment system, head-up display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and NFC digital key.
Electronic safety features include Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Automatic High Beam Assist, Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Lane Follow Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) and Around View Monitor (AVM). Blind-spot View Monitoring is also available: objects on the left- or right-side blind spots can be seen on corresponding positions on the driver display.
There’s no indication of price but is estimated to be around RM200,000, the price range of its segment competitors, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The eighth-generation Hyundai Sonata is likely to launch by the end of November 2020.
