Reference Auto

Hyundai Motors India Ltd or HMIL, which is turning out to be a global auto force, had recently revamped the Verna in terms of looks, and now has embarked on a journey to give its top-end car, the Sonata, a refurbished look, which could make a big difference in the premium sedan segment.

The 2.4 litre GDI engine propelled Sonata, which had first been unveiled during the Delhi Auto Expo held in January, will be rolled out in India this month itself.

The new Sonata engine’s GDi technology helps in better performance and fuel efficiency as the high pressure fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber.

The 2.4 litre GDI engine provides 201PS@6,300 rpm of maximum power and 25.5Kgm@4,250 rpm of peak torque.

The new Sonata will be priced from Rs 18.5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and the Merc look of the new Sonata will surely win over many hearts.

Like the last century belonged to the Japanese techies, who produced one of the best cars (Honda and Toyota) as well as the most sought-after electronics goods (Sony), this century clearly belongs to the Koreans (such as Hyundai and Samsung).

Hyundai has emerged as a big force and is also a name to reckon with in the premium US and European markets.

The new Sonata is again an example of Hyundai's signature ‘fluidic’ design. It has front and rear seat ventilation, high intensity Xenon head lamps, cruise control, paddle shift, 10-way adjustable power seat with lumber support and a four-way power adjustable front co-driver seat. The new Sonata has a 6-speed manual and automatic transmission.

Safety features in the new Sonata have been enhanced and include six airbags, anti-lock braking system or ABS with electronic brake force distribution or EBD, electronic stability program or ESP along with rear view camera with push button start.

The suspensions are one of the engineering marvels of the new Sonata as it has hi-tech Amplitude Selective Damper or ASD resulting in improved driving comfort.

The new Sonata also comes with some features that will make it the cynosure of all eyes like Vacuum Fluorescent Display or VFD cluster and an X-shaped centre fascia, among others.

The leader in the Rs 20 lakh category is Skoda Superb and other competitors of the new Sonata include the Volkswagen Passat and the Honda Accord.

With an eye on ramping up sales volumes, Hyundai is planning a completely new line-up for the domestic market in the next three years.

Hyundai’s Sonata currently has a low sales volume, that is, around 6,000 a year, but its new looks along with the enhanced safety and other features could make it a competitor to the Skoda Rapid, which is the leader in the premium sedan category.