Rendered Speculation: 2010 Hyundai Sonata looks Geni-good
Hyundai's Genesis might be knocked as "generic," but some would argue that the car is the most balanced, handsome design to ever issue forth from the Korean juggernaut (at least until the Genesis Coupe rolls up). Range toppers often define the style for the rest of the range, and there's rumored to be a Genesis-y Sonata on the way. Carparazzi's renderings could be nothing more than wishful thinking, but it's claimed that the images are a cross between spy shots of the new Sonata, known internally as YF, and the Genesis. Given the styling epiphany that's been going on at Hyundai during the past few years, the handsome car in these renderings may well be on the money. Style, value, and potentially a hybrid powertrain point to a bright future for Hyundai's melodic sedan. [Source: Global Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DCragtop 10:06AM (12/19/2008)
I've seen a few of these (not the 2010's obviously) on the streets now and I gotta say, while not 'ground-breaking' the car does have an elegant yet bossy presence.
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SimbaDogg 4:56PM (12/19/2008)
man, hyundai is really starting to come w/ a new sense of sex appeal for me. i'd even take some of their new cars over my favorites (hondas). this long running rocky balboa/underdog story certainly doesn't bode well for the big 3, nor honda, toyota or nissan for that matter.
MemphisNET 10:08AM (12/19/2008)
@DCragtop
Agreed. But if this is in fact what the next gen will look like, damn... they've got the goods.
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Kotse 4:33PM (12/19/2008)
In side view, a silhouette of the current S Class is evident from b-pillar to the front..the roof curve ala CLS, the remaining rear and trunk..purely Genesis.
If this is any indication of the next Sonata...it looks hot!
BigMcLargeHuge 10:23AM (12/19/2008)
The current ones drive nice too. Interiors are decent. Engine and handling were on a par with the Mazda 6.
I rented one for a week and I liked it better than anything in its class.
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mcr 10:24AM (12/19/2008)
it's interesting how autoblog never seems to properly cite the proper source of these news items.
http://www.hyundai-blog.com/index.php/2008/12/15/next-generation-hyundai-sonata-yf-renderings/
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Crackberry Addict 11:46AM (12/19/2008)
I went to the link, and they have the redesigned Hyundai Tusan, its looking good. It reminds me of the Vue/Rogue.
Auari 10:27AM (12/19/2008)
So far Hyundai is the best bang for your buck.
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Fernando 10:28AM (12/19/2008)
The rear end looks a little "Lexus" to me, but the car is looking good. Now we'll have to see what they do with the interior. If they can step it up a bit from what it currently looks like, I think I might have found my next car. Also, the Genesis V6 might work really nicely here (detuned some 20 ponies, of course). Can you imagine the 3.8L V6 with 270HP from Hyundai. It would definitely compete well with the Camry and Accord.
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John R 10:29AM (12/19/2008)
Those renderings look pretty boss, but probably too good to be true.
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Dan 10:36AM (12/19/2008)
That looks a lot like a camry, especially the grille
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FRANK DUKES 10:55AM (12/19/2008)
I AGREE DAN FRONT END LOOKS CAMRYISH WISH LEX ES HEADLIGHTS!!
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Bob Bigglesworth 4:21PM (12/19/2008)
The rendering could have at least been the size of the existing sonata and not the genesis (sedan)....why would High-un-die make two cars of the same size and call it two different things?
The new sonata will be the similar size as it is now, however I do agree that they will make the rear end and front end more genesis-esque, that styling with their pricing advantage will keep them selling....
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fc 5:48PM (12/19/2008)
Simply wow.
Looks better than a Lexus.
archknight 11:51AM (12/19/2008)
The rendering is HOT!!! The question is, "What platform are they really using?" The article says YF, but there are rumors that Hyundai will become the luxury marque of the Korean auto giant. Would they use the BH platform that underpins the Genesis and start going after luxury automakers? As well as, "What engine will they use?" and "What transmission choices well they make?" Competitors are throwing 6-speeds on even there 4-cylinder models and Hyundai is said to placing an 8-speed in the Genesis in 2010. As for engines, the 2.4L they have is on par but the 3.3L V6 is still underpowered, so will they bore it out to a larger displacement or simply place the 3.8L under the hood. Also, if they stuck with FWD and the 3.8L is capable of 290-306hp (so far), "Would they offer AWD as standard to control all that power?"
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BoxerFanatic 11:53AM (12/19/2008)
Holy cow...
SOMEONE CAN ACTUALLY DESIGN AN AFFORDABLE SEDAN!!! And to prove it, they do it twice!
The Genesis is a good start, but this Sonata is actually even better.
Too bad it is a FWD puller, and not overtly sporty. It could very easily be sporty. I think Genesis could be sporty, too, if it tried a little bit.
If it were RWD like Genesis (even with GenCoupe's Turbo 4 and V6 power plants, rather than Genesis Sedan's V6->V8, or longitudinal AWD...)
Good grief, if the Subaru Legacy Concept looked like this, with Subaru's longitudinal AWD, and 300hp Turbo 4 or 3.6 H6, and both manual and automatic transmissions... I would be figuring and scheming to figure out how to afford it NOW, and my Legacy would be getting ready to be replaced.
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bigMIKE 11:53AM (12/19/2008)
No one used to dog out Hyundai more than me, but I have to say that in the last few years I have not been able to say anything negative about them. That is until they offered a $40+K car. I couldn't believe they had the balls to do that. I guess that is why the logo is not on the front of the Genesis.
I like this rendering. I hope the real thing is close to it, but unfortunately for me, I plan getting a car in the first half of 2009.
I am deciding between the Altima, Accord, Malibu, and Fusion. But if that Sonata were available, it would win on looks alone for me. The 10 year powertrain warranty would be a big seller for me, too.
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Eric 11:55AM (12/19/2008)
Hyundai is rising through the ranks, I'm happy to see them do so.
Although it would be a while before Id consider a Hyundai, they are more enticing every day.
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Steve 12:48PM (12/19/2008)
Why do Korean cars always look like copies? Yes it is nice looking, we should thank the Lexus designers for all of their hard work.
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MikeofLA 1:18PM (12/19/2008)
If you look back to lexus and acura during their inception in the early 90's, they were very much "copies" of the competitors cars. It's easier to copy and inject some of your own DNA, then to reinvent the wheel. Lexus and Acura made great looking cars that were much more reliable then the cars they were going after, now Hyundai is doing the same, just going for "Much less expensive, just as reliable, and slightly better looking".