NEW VEHICLE HYUNDAI SONATA 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA STYLE, PRESENCE, TECHNOLOGY

Having made a significant mark with quality and reliability of its products globally, South Korean carmaker Hy- undai Motor Company started focussing on beauty and aesthetics. Today, Hyundai looks at good design, ex- pressed through its ‘fluidic sculpture’ philosophy, as one of its core competitive edges – aspects that have helped the carmaker become the world's fastest growing automaker for two consecutive years. The new Hyundai Sonata, launched in India recently, is another epitome of its core strengths and values.

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60-63_New Vehicle Hyundai Sonata.indd 60 06-04-2012 12:52:14 The upgraded fifth-gen Sonata failed to figures ever since its launch is a glaring impress amidst a growing tribe of per- example of the vehicle’s acceptance in formance-oriented and better-styled India. sedans in the D segment. Hyundai needed Auto Tech Review was recently invited to up the ante. In 2009 came the sixth- to experience the new Sonata by HMIL. generation of the Sonata, codenamed YF. Did we come back impressed? Read on, The current model, launched in India for we bring to you a technical review of recently, is an upgraded variant of the YF, the latest addition to the HMIL stable, introduced in 2011. It has been a success priced at ` 18,52,979 for the manual in international markets, with accolades , and ` 20,61,272 for the vari- coming in for not just its design and styl- ant with an auto box. Both prices are ex- ing but for safety as well. showroom, Delhi. Being in the top league globally, the company needed products by which they could differentiate from competitors. That POWERTRAIN gave birth to the fluidic design philosophy – a vision of progressive and passionate The Sonata is powered by Hyundai's first future design that combined the harmony direct-injection petrol – Gasoline Direct- of human co-existence and the wisdom of Injection (GDI) – . This is a 2.4 l sustainable growth from nature’s never four-cylinder Theta II engine with horse- ending evolution. power and ratings of 198 hp at Oh Suk-Geun, Chief Designer of 6,300 revs per minute and 250 Nm of Hyundai Motor Corporation was once torque @ 4,250 rpm respectively. The quoted in the international media as say- engine is mated to six-speed manual and ing, “We felt the importance of a fluidic automatic transmissions. softness of line, and harmony in line can The GDI has a shorter and more direct also mean a car is very aerodynamic.” path of fuel delivery, leading to improved Results started showing almost immedi- fuel efficiency and lesser emissions. The ately. Over the past two years, sales in the fuel is injected by a camshaft-driven, high

Unlike most of its other products in the US reported a rise of around 20 % annu- pressure pump that operates at pressures Indian market, Hyundai Motor India Ltd ally. Half of that increase, salesmen up to 150 bar. In essence, the GDI works (HMIL) has experienced limited success reported, was due to the changed looks of in a similar manner as a die- with the Sonata . Launched about a Hyundai products. sel injection system, where petrol is com- decade back in India, the fourth-genera- In India too, HMIL has introduced pressed by a high pressure pump and tion Sonata then was a head turner, espe- products that embodies the fluidic design then injected into the cylinders. This high cially with its Jaguar-inspired body spirit. The i20, followed by the i10, Eon pressure fuel injection system ensures design. At that point in time, the Sonata and the Verna all brought out Hyundai’s improvement in performance and com- was stiff competition for market leader, fluidic design to the consumers. And if bustion efficiency. The injection system Honda Accord. numbers to any talking, the Verna sales also uses a higher than normal 11.3:1

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60-63_New Vehicle Hyundai Sonata.indd 61 06-04-2012 12:52:32 NEW VEHICLE HYUNDAI SONATA

The ventilated seats in the new Sonata work beautifully. While the AT gets ventilated seats on both the front and rear seats, the MT gets the feature only on the front row of seats.

compression ratio for increased power. A positioning this vehicle as a premium lux- Again, this is not a vehicle that will thrill roller chain meanwhile helps in precise ury sports sedan, and it’s in the sportiness you with its pace, but for what it does, its valve timing. quotient that it scores less. Overtaking on complete value for money. The engine also features dual continu- the highway wasn’t as easy as the power ously variable valve timing (D-VTVT), figures would project. But, the new which allows independent control of the Sonata is mostly likely to be a chauffeur SAFETY intake and exhaust valves. The system is driven car, and there is little doubt about designed to optimise the opening and the rear seat comfort. The new Sonata scores high on safety, closing timing for the intake and exhaust : The gear shift and boasts of a 5-Star safety rating from valves based on the engine rpm levels and quality in the six-speed manual transmis- the US NHSTA and other top safety the load. The variable intake system sion is smooth and precise. The lower awards in different markets. It is meanwhile controls the length and vol- gears are tuned to ensure ideal driving equipped with six airbags – dual front ume of air travel to the engine, resulting pleasure in city traffic, while the 5th and airbags with passenger detection system in improved engine performance. 6th gear ratios are tall enough to ensure and dual side and dual curtain airbags. Having driven both the variants on the improved fuel efficiency over long drives. Other notable safety equipments include East Coast Road between Chennai and However, to feel the rush of blood the car ESP, ABS with EBD, rear parking assist Puducherry, we can vouch for the fact demands downshifting frequently to the system, electro chromic mirror (ECM) that the MT feels better than the auto- 2nd or 3rd gears. and auto headlight control, among matic. It’s a convenient vehicle to drive : The six- many others. Brakes in the car have both within city limits, and on the high- speed automatic transmission is smooth enough bite. While the manual Sonata way. However, considering the power and and convenient. This variant has conven- gets a conventional parking brake, the torque ratings of the new Sonata, it’s not ience features like paddle shifters and automatic features a foot type parking a car to excite regular drivers. Hyundai is cruise control, which work pretty well. brake.

The rear armrest offers passengers loads of storage The new Sonata has got a strong rear presence. The Sonata's instrument cluster is visually appealing and space, and gives them control of their own seat ven- wraparound LED tail lamps flow effortlessly into the neatly laid out. tilation (cooling/ warming). lid.

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60-63_New Vehicle Hyundai Sonata.indd 62 06-04-2012 12:53:00 With its striking styling and strong road presence, the new Hyundai Sonata is likely to draw good number of customers to Hyundai showrooms.

DESIGN electric-fold function, they don't fold auto- with video display on the rear view mir- matically when the vehicle is locked or ror. While reversing the vehicle, the driver From the looks of it, the new Sonata is a unlocked. The 215/55 R17 tyres from gets a three-level warning – the green, yel- stunner with the fluidic philosophy evi- Hankook are fitted on to 10-spoke 17 inch low and red lines indicate the distance dent across the vehicle. Inside, the vehicle alloy wheels. In the Indian market, the from the rear wall. is big and spacious – enough even for tall new Sonata will be available in four col- people with generous leg and head room. ours – coral white, sleek silver, mushroom At an overall length of 4,820 mm, the new and black diamond. ROUND-UP Sonata is only marginally longer than the Both variants of the new Sonata have Toyota Camry and Suzuki Kizashi, while standard two-tone beige interior. The With its striking styling and strong road its competitors in the D segment – Skoda seats and trim get leather treatment, and presence, the new Hyundai Sonata is Superb, Nissan Teana or the Honda so does the steering wheel. The steering likely to draw good number of customers Accord – are fairly longer. has integrated controls for audio and to Hyundai showrooms. However, what The is 2,795 mm long, pro- Bluetooth telephony on the left, and might surprise interested buyers is the viding enough space in the inside of the cruise control and trip meter on the right. lack of a diesel option on the car. Officials car. The width and height figures are Other controls on the dashboard are easily at HMIL feel Sonata buyers do not travel measured at 1,835 mm and 1,490 mm accessible to the driver. The In-Car-Enter- beyond 50 km on a daily basis. In addi- respectively. Compared to its predecessor, tainment system has a six CD changer as tion, market research said the cost of the new Sonata has grown in proportions well as AUX and USB inputs. owning a petrol vehicle over a period of – length has increased by 20mm, width is A segment first, the new Sonata gets time turns out beneficial as compared to a up 3 mm and its wheelbase has gone up a ventilated seats that work beautifully in diesel. significant 65 mm. warm conditions, as we experienced dur- The market reality could however, be The roof line of the Sonata looks to be ing our drive. There is also an option of slightly different. Competitors in this seg- an inspiration carried over from the Mer- individually heating or cooling the seats. ment – Honda Accord and the Toyota cedes CLS. On the side, Hyundai design- While all four seats in the AT variant have Camry too are not offered in diesel, while ers have beautifully integrated the door ventilation options, only the rear seats are products from the – handles into the swooping cut. Even the ventilated in the MT variant. The driver’s the VW Passat and the Skoda Superb are wraparound LED tail lamps flow effort- seat gets a 10-way adjustable electric available in both fuel variants. That has lessly into the trunk lid. It has got a strong mechanism with lumbar support, while resulted in a huge difference when com- rear presence, with the dual chrome the passenger seat gets four. The AT vari- pared in terms of sales. exhaust pipes giving the look a lot of ant also get two memory positions for the character. In the front, the grill gels per- seats. TEXT: Deepangshu Dev Sarmah fectly with the high intensity xenon head- The Sonata is equipped with a dual- PHOTO: Hyundai lamps with washer. zone fully auto temperature control, with The body coloured ORVMs with turn individual AC vents for the passengers at indicators are big and convenient as well. the rear. The other notable feature inside More on this article However, although they come with an the vehicle is the reverse camera system www.autotechreview.com

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