Next-gen Hyundai Sonata revealed

Hyundai’s large sedan adopts a sporty, four-door-coupe-like body style; will debut at the 2019 New York auto show.

Published On Mar 07, 2019 05:52:00 PM

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Hyundai has released the first set of photographs of the eighth-generation Sonata, prior to its global debut on April 19 at the New York auto show. The sedan features a new design and a more premium interior, in comparison to the outgoing model.

The new Hyundai Sonata is the first model to be styled using the Korean brand’s new design language –Sensuous Sportiness – which was previewed by last year’s Le Fil Rouge concept (HDC-1). This eighth-generation model adopts a sporty, four-door-coupe-like body style, which is a departure from the conventional sedan shape of its predecessor. The new Sonata has also grown in size and is 45mm longer, 25mm wider and also has a wheelbase that’s 35mm longer. However, it is now 30mm lower than the previous model.

A talking point on the new Hyundai Sonata is a feature that the carmaker has dubbed Hidden Lighting Lamps. It serves a dual purpose of being daytime running lamps (DRLs) and also a chrome strip. As Hyundai puts it, “The Hidden Lighting Lamps appear to be of a chromic material when switched off and become dramatically lit when turned on”.

On the inside, the new Sonata looks even more premium than the older model. The dashboard gets a dual-tone finish, with beige leather on top and grey plastic below. The centre is dominated by a large touchscreen infotainment screen that is mounted above the slim central air vents. There’s a new design for the steering too – a four-spoke, leather-wrapped unit with controls for the infotainment system and cruise control. The digital instrument cluster is also new.

The eighth-gen Hyundai Sonata will go on sale in international markets in the second-half of 2019. India, however, is unlikely to be on the new Sonata’s radar. The Hyundai Sonata was a prestige buy when it went on sale in India in 2001 but lost favour over the years. The model was eventually discontinued in India in 2015, following slow sales.

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