Spy Shots: Next-gen Hyundai Sonata going four-door coupe route
by John Neff on Feb 27th 2009 at 4:58PM 
Click above for high-res gallery of next-gen Hyundai Sonata pics
With the Genesis Sedan and Coupe both finally on sale, Hyundai has a moment to breathe. OK, done. Back to work. Next up is a complete redesign of the Hyundai Sonata, which is one the South Korean brand's big sellers that competes in a very crowded, competitive segment against the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion, among others.
The next Sonata will be a total rethinking of the mid-size sedan's packaging. Based on these spy shots taken while a prototype was out testing on what appears to be a frozen lake, we can clearly see that the profile of the next Sonata will move farther towards the four-door coupe end of the spectrum where vehicles like the Volkswagen CC live. The severely sloping roof line now meets the trunk lid much farther back leaving just a short length of rear deck lid. Overall, it appears as if the next Sonata will be a larger, yet much more visually interesting vehicle than the one it replaces. The only question is, where does that leave the Azera?
[Source: KGP Photogrpahy]
The next Sonata will be a total rethinking of the mid-size sedan's packaging. Based on these spy shots taken while a prototype was out testing on what appears to be a frozen lake, we can clearly see that the profile of the next Sonata will move farther towards the four-door coupe end of the spectrum where vehicles like the Volkswagen CC live. The severely sloping roof line now meets the trunk lid much farther back leaving just a short length of rear deck lid. Overall, it appears as if the next Sonata will be a larger, yet much more visually interesting vehicle than the one it replaces. The only question is, where does that leave the Azera?
Gallery: Next-gen Hyundai Sonata - spy shots
[Source: KGP Photogrpahy]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sandeep 5:06PM (2/27/2009)
Looking good (under all that camo) to me. Can't wait to see what it looks like when you get rid of all that junk. And if the interior continues to show the Hyundai improvements.
When is this supposed to come to the market? 2011?
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Lee 5:10PM (2/27/2009)
Looks like the profile of the new Mazda6. Which isn't even close to the Volkswagen CC in my opinion.
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Ligor 5:14PM (2/27/2009)
+1 on teh mazda 6 profile
but it doesn't need to be close the the VW, in my eye that car is way to ugly
the rear is hyundai elantra dan the fron is just big and heavy looking
the side view is messed up by the c-pillar design for that one
Franz 5:10PM (2/27/2009)
Hyundai seems to be on a roll. It's all camo'd up, but in profile it seems to be a much more interesting shape the the current Sonata.
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Kevin 5:11PM (2/27/2009)
The Azera was mearly a stop-gap to get them to the Genesis. I have a feeling that the Azera is as good as dead upon this car's arrival.
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JG 5:22PM (2/27/2009)
Nope. I have it on good authority that there WILL be a next-gen Azera. It's not going away...
Anyway, the next-gen Sonata (YF) will look very stylish and sporty, with a prominent character line on the side of the car like the Gen Coupe.
hypermiler 5:49PM (2/27/2009)
Azera is Hyundai's best seller, at least in its home market. Azera, or at least the KDM counterpart, has been around fof 30|+ years and isn't going anywhere.
Serge 5:12PM (2/27/2009)
When MB called the CLS a "four door coupe" I thought it was stupid... but that car actually looks like a beautiful coupe with four doors, so it's not that bad.
But all these new crap-o-mobiles that are basically sedans with slightly lower roof lines or even station wagons (Panamera) are not nearly sleek and beautiful enough. But I guess manufacturers can charge a premium on an existing sedan just because they chopped the roof a little... just look a VW.
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chconline 5:16PM (2/27/2009)
I don't really understand the whole craze around the "4-door coupe" thing.
Make a car that looks nice, good interior, and reasonably practical, I'll buy one whether you want to call it a sedan or 4-door coupe.
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MM 5:23PM (2/27/2009)
I've seen this before. Its a re-badged 2003 Dodge Intrepid. The marketing department is calling it a 4-door coupe or CC instead of cab forward!
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BigWill 8:53PM (2/27/2009)
I suspect that cab forward look is being created or enhanced by the camoflage. There have been pics posted of the new Sonata's body-in-white, and it definitely doesn't have the cab forward look.
Droo 4:44PM (3/02/2009)
You read my mind exactly! Not that that's a bad thing. I liked Chryslers styling in this period...
XJ 4:44PM (2/28/2009)
I far as I know no one from Hyundai has ever tagged this anything. I believe this "4-door coupe" hoopla was created by bloggers and by public speculation.
the vegas style guy 5:30PM (2/27/2009)
Wow! a long way from my little Hyundai whatever it was called from many years ago!
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Rainy99 5:35PM (2/27/2009)
Dear Hyundai~
In the new Sonata, plz add at least a memory driver seat.
Kthxbye
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Bomchickawahwah 11:53PM (2/27/2009)
And break-a-way side mirrors!
XJ 4:41PM (2/28/2009)
I don't know about memory seats since the Azera/Genesis have them and they need some incentive for you to pay premium.
I do agree on the folding side mirrors. Even the Elantra has them.
Other Man 7:14PM (2/27/2009)
If Hyundai can hit another knockout, I'll be impressed.
The current one still holds its own next to the Malibu, Camry, and Accord. With much more style inside and out, they'll erase that tradition Korean cars have for looking like previous-gen Japanese competitors.
Update the 2.4L nicely, maybe offer the new 290 hp version of the 3.8L with a 3.3L in between. 6-speed autos ... yum.
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Xcountryflyer 5:45PM (2/27/2009)
A solid midsize sedan should be even better the next round with Hyundai's further progress. I say the Azera goes bye-bye. There is no room between the Sonata and Genesis.
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wolverinejoe80 7:35PM (2/27/2009)
i think hyundai has to rethink what azera should be. i think they should let azera grow bigger and make it the next towncar, the biggest cushy car in the market. otherwise there is no selling point for azera.
anyway, i love the proportion under that camo. it's gonna be another home run by hyundai.