Autoblog

Hyundai moves to fix early 2011 Sonata Turbo hose issue

Chris Paukert — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Safety, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T - click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai's eagerly anticipated Sonata 2.0T model has just begun hitting U.S. showrooms, but a small quality issue that cropped up in the first batch of cars is causing some consternation. Conversations have been popping up on internet forums about the issue, and there has been some confusion as to the nature of the problem as well as questions about whether or not a stop-sale has been ordered by the company.

A small rubber hose that feeds oil to the turbo unit in very early 2011 Sonata Turbo models was apparently built to the wrong specification and needs replacement. According to a few user forum reports, some dealers haven't been allowing customers to test drive the vehicles until the correct part has been fitted. Additionally, at least one of the first 2.0T owners informed Autoblog that his dealer actually flat-bedded his car back for service. However, Hyundai officials tell Autoblog that this issue affects very few units, and they want to make it clear that no stop-sale has been issued.

Hyundai spokesman Dan Bedore:

"In about 30 cases, we had to get with customers who already had their cars. We're using the new hose in production and have finished retrofitting those that were built but not sold. We asked dealers to replace the hose before delivery but didn't issue a stop sale. No lost sales, no big disruption, the customer comes first - that's business as usual for Hyundai.

Hyundai says it only sold around 30 units before the hose problem was discovered, and the company has only built around 1,000 units in total, most of which are still in transit to dealers. All new Sonata turbos rolling off of assembly lines are being fitted with the new part, and all new models sold will have the correct hose installed.

Hyundai's Sonata line has been an extremely strong seller since its introduction earlier this year, quickly moving the Korean automaker into third place in the hotly contested family sedan segment. However, the Sonata has also suffered some early teething problems, including the recall of 1,300 units over a possible door latch malfunction in March and the recall of 139,500 units over steering problems in late October. Hat tip to Nic!

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T: First Drive

Hyundai moves to fix early 2011 Sonata Turbo hose issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai Sonata overtakes Nissan Altima for third in mid-size segment

Zach Bowman — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai is movin' on up. According to The Detroit News, the Sonata officially displaced the Nissan Altima as the third best-selling mid-size sedan in America last month. In August, the Korean manufacturer sold 21,399 units, falling just behind the Honda Accord at 22,506 and the Toyota Camry at a little over 30,000. Those numbers are just based on retail sales, not the vehicles that are sold off to rental fleets. The Sonata has been besting rivals like the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu for a good while now, but this is the first time the car has managed to rattle the Japanese triumvirate that dominates the segment.

It seemed to be only a matter of time, though. The Sonata now wears some of the best looking sheet metal of any midsizer out there and its price tag comes in a good bit lower than both the Accord and the Camry. Throw in a snappy interior and very efficient drivetrain options, and suddenly you've got the attention of the car-buying public. The Detroit News says that since the 2011 Sonata debuted, the number of car buyers considering the vehicle has leapfrogged from 6.2 percent in January of 2007 to 19.5 percent recently. Thanks for the tip, Nicolai!

Gallery: Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Hyundai Sonata overtakes Nissan Altima for third in mid-size segment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: NHTSA investigating steering issues on 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has only been on sale for a few months, but it's already winning over many American mid-size sedan buyers, and we've been every impressed by what we've found in our first drive and review. However, the rakish new Sonata could face a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into about 16,300 Sonatas due to potential steering issues.

NHTSA has received reports that cite problems with either a separation of the upper universal joint in the intermediate steering shaft assembly. The result is a complete loss of steering capability, though the universal joint was not completely separated.

Hyundai says that it is unaware of any accidents or injuries connected to this issue and that it is fully cooperating with NHTSA on the investigation. The automaker also says that it had received reports of two vehicles with a steering problem linked to the upper universal joint, but that both were repaired without issue. Expect the results of NHTSA's investigation to be released in the coming weeks.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL
[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: NHTSA investigating steering issues on 2011 Hyundai Sonata originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan, Hyundai reportedly duking it out for No. 2 Asian automaker in U.S.

Chris Shunk — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hyundai, Nissan

Nissan has long been the number three Asian automaker in the U.S., lagging behind both Honda and Toyota on the sales charts. But the Japanese automaker has been on a bit of a roll of late, with 10 straight months of sales gains and an aggressive product onslaught planned for the next 24 months. Nissan would love to unseat Honda to finally sneak up to the number two slot in the States, but a funny thing's happening: Hyundai is doing its best to push Nissan down to number four.

Nissan and Hyundai are currently in a dead heat in U.S. auto sales. Through July, Nissan has sold 522,669 cars and trucks, while Hyundai, when combined with Kia sales, has moved 515,316 vehicles. Hyundai has a treasure-trove of new product on dealer lots lead by the outstanding Sonata sedan. New products like the Kia Sportage and the Elantra are poised to battle hard for increased market share in their perspective segments. Nissan is countering with a new Juke in October, followed by the Leaf EV and the Quest minivan, and wrapping up with another six significantly upgraded vehicles by 2012.

So who do we think will win the battle for number two? Hyundai appears to have most of the momentum at the moment, but Nissan has a larger customer base - at the moment. In fact, we'd be surprised if either automaker surpasses Honda in the next couple years.

[Source: USA Today]

Nissan, Hyundai reportedly duking it out for No. 2 Asian automaker in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friends with Benefits: Hyundai shifts Santa Fe production to Kia plant to build more Sonatas

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Hyundai

Straight from HQ at The Department of the Obvious, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is selling as quickly as Miley Cyrus tickets before Cyrus lost the plot. That's got Hyundai Motor America shuffling production plans around in order to build enough Sonatas in the U.S., instead of getting them from South Korea.

Hyundai's Alabama plant produces the Sonata sedan and the Santa Fe, but Santa Fe assembly is being moved to a Kia plant in Georgia where the Sorento is built - easy stuff as they share a platform. With a production capacity of 300,000 cars at the Alabama plant running full tilt, the way things are going, it's no wonder Hyundai might be looking use all of it.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Friends with Benefits: Hyundai shifts Santa Fe production to Kia plant to build more Sonatas originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid looks to split the uprights

Chris Paukert — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Hyundai, First Drives

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid hails from a nation where Buddhism is one of the dominant religions. After all, this slippery sedan's design is the gas-electric's equivalent of The Middle Path - a road that the company hopes is truly the way to automotive enlightenment.

Say what?

In the still-young history of the modern hybrid automobile, there have been two prevailing schools of thought on design: As the less costly path, The Low Road to hybridization is already a crowded one - it's a design route that basically calls for the electrification hardware to be buried beneath a familiar bodyshell that's shared with a conventional internal combustion-only model (see: Lexus LS 600h, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Chevrolet Silverado, etc.). The driving philosophy here is to keep production costs in check while also appealing to audiences that might be otherwise reluctant to embrace "new" technology.

Despite being on the checklist of every politician, environmentalist and Hollywood glitterati, hybrids don't sell in America

By contrast, The High Road calls for swoopier model-specific bodywork - if not an entire dedicated platform - enabling a "greener than thou" halo for its owners and parent company. Unfortunately, this high-visibility strategy also costs a boatload of cash, and the only such model that has managed to make a solid business case for itself is the Toyota Prius, a vehicle that's become the de-facto postercar for the green movement.

But here's the conundrum that Hyundai has keenly recognized: Despite being on the checklist of every politician, environmentalist and Hollywood glitterati, hybrids don't sell in America - they account for less than two percent of new vehicles purchased in the U.S. every year, and their high technology bandwidth means that they require a disproportionate amount of money to develop. Basically, Hyundai knows that the Sonata Hybrid is a necessity for improving its technological capabilities, as well as for burnishing its industry-leading CAFE scores, but it also seems to understand that it is almost certain to lose money on each one it builds. Which is why they've taken The Middle Path.

In this case, the Sonata Hybrid tries to integrate the best of the other two hybrid strategies - create a distinctive new model with a unique look that says "I care more about the earth than you do" without incurring the cost of a whole new platform and all-new sheetmetal. Have they been successful? We flew all the way to South Korea to find out...

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid looks to split the uprights

First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid looks to split the uprights originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street America

Chris Paukert — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, First Drives, South Korea

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've watched with a sense of awe as Hyundai has gone from a discount also-ran brand into a genuine industry powerhouse in startlingly short order. But we've also long suspected that its vehicles have gained so much ground by being among the best values in their respective segments - not because they've necessarily been the best vehicles to drive. The addition of the Genesis Coupe may have served notice that Hyundai isn't content to just be the industry's value leader (see Battle of the Sixes), but the keystone draw of most of the brand's offerings has remained their affordability. Which is not to suggest this is a bad thing - Hyundai's steroidal growth speaks to the inherent soundness of its strategy. But as enthusiasts, we've been waiting for the company to not only out-value, but to categorically outsmart and outplay its rivals. With introduction of the 2011 Sonata, Hyundai appears to have done exactly that.

The Sonata has proven to be far more than just a styling stunt.

We admit that we weren't sure whether the Sonata's outré styling would play in that most milquetoast of markets: the family sedan segment. When the sheet was pulled on the 2011 model, it was as if Hyundai had strolled into a Sunday morning prayer breakfast with Kathy Griffin on its arm - we didn't know exactly what was going to come of it, but we knew it was going to be fun to watch. Thankfully, the Sonata has proven to be far more than just a styling stunt. Packing big space, a rock-solid chassis, accomplished handling and unmatched power and fuel economy from its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Sonata has gained widespread acceptance and acclaim in a historically conservative slice of the market.

But while the normally aspirated sedan got our attention, the promised 2.0-liter turbocharged model had our enthusiast hearts bound up in anticipation. The specifications revealed at this spring's New York Auto Show were enough to have visions of a proper cut-rate sport sedan dancing in our heads: 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque plunked into a chassis that's among the very lightest in its class. So when Hyundai invited us to hop a plane to Seoul to sample their new force-fed family schlepper, we had our bag packed and were at the airport before you could say "pass the Kimchi."

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street America

First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street America originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Sonata door latch recall gets official

Chris Shunk — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Click above for high-res image gallery

A couple weeks back, Hyundai put a stop-sale on its freshly minted 2011 Sonata sedan because a front door latch could malfunction after a rather labored series of steps. The stop-sale was lifted almost immediately, though, as the Korean automaker was able to quickly ship replacement parts to U.S. dealers, at which point the vehicles in stock were repaired. At that time, though, Hyundai promised to work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to put out a recall notice for the 1,300 vehicles that had already been sold; a promise that came to fruition this morning as NHTSA put out an official bulletin.

The NHTSA recall notice claims that the front inside door lock switches can remain in the unlatched position under certain conditions, making it possible for the front driver or passenger doors to open while the vehicle is in motion. Hyundai tells us that the latch may malfunction when a front inside door lock switch is held in the locked position while the inside door handle is pulled to open the door.

Sonata owners affected by the recall can bring their vehicle to the nearest Hyundai dealer for the no-cost repairs, which should take about an hour. Hit the jump to read over the NHTSA press release.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Sonata door latch recall gets official

2011 Hyundai Sonata door latch recall gets official originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Hyundai issues stop-sale on 2011 Sonata over possible door latch malfunction *UPDATE

Chris Paukert — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Click above for high-res image gallery

With the first units of its 2011 Sonata sedan having just begun hitting dealers, Hyundai is in the unfortunate position of having to issue a stop-sale on its most hotly anticipated new model in some time. According to Hyundai, an estimated 5,000 Sonatas may have a defective front door latch that could require replacement:

The [Sonata's] front doors incorporate a convenience feature that allows a locked door to be unlocked and opened by pulling the inside door release handle without first unlocking the door with the inside door lock switch. If a front inside door lock switch is held in the locked position while the inside door handle is pulled to open the door, the door latch may malfunction. If this occurs, the inside door handle will not return to its normal, stowed position and the door latch will remain in the unlatched position when attempting to close the door.

Because the two rear doors do not incorporate the automatic unlock pull-handle-to-open convenience feature, they are not affected by this issue, but both driver and passenger front door mechanisms could be in need of repair. Spokesperson Miles Johnson tells Autoblog that Hyundai will be working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall vehicles that are already in customer hands (roughly 1,300 units have been sold since the first examples hit dealerships over the past couple of weeks), and the company will begin shipping replacement latches to its 790 dealers tomorrow in order to fix both customer and dealer stock Sonatas as soon as possible. Once the new latches are installed (a process that Johnson says takes about an hour per vehicle), the stop-sale will be ended.

Johnson also acknowledged that Hyundai is keenly aware that the eyes of the media, public and Capitol Hill are on Toyota and NHTSA at this time, and the company hopes to effect a swift and complete fix for this door latch issue on a model range that is expected to remain the company's volume leader.

*UPDATE: Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson informs Autoblog that the stop-sale has been lifted, as replacement parts have already started hitting dealers and the effected parts have begun being replaced. On average, each dealer has six or seven Sonatas in stock and dealers have been looking at the codes stamped on the latches to see if they need to be replaced. Dealers will not sell vehicles without the replacement parts installed, but because the repair only takes an hour, they are still able to correct the issue and get customers into a new car the same day.

The 1,300 units that were already sold prior to the stop-sale action will be subject to a NHTSA recall, but even prior to that official announcement, concerned owners are advised to bring their cars into dealers for a free inspection (and latch replacement if necessary).

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

BREAKING: Hyundai issues stop-sale on 2011 Sonata over possible door latch malfunction *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS names 2011 Hyundai Sonata a Top Safety Pick

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Safety, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has a lot of things going for it. Not only does the sedan wear sleek new sheetmetal, it's powered by a powerful yet fuel-efficient 2.4-liter four-pot mill with direct injection, capable of achieving up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway and it's priced below the $20,000 mark. Now, the Sonata can wear another badge of honor, as it has just earned the rating of Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

According to the IIHS, a Top Safety Pick vehicle must earn the highest rating of "good" in all front, side and rear crash tests, and it must be equipped with electronic stability control. This is a relatively big achievement for Hyundai, as the 2011 model is the first Sonata to receive this high honor.

We're in the process of conducting our first drive on the Sonata as you read this, so stay tuned for full driving impressions in the not-too-distant future.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

IIHS names 2011 Hyundai Sonata a Top Safety Pick originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai prices the 2011 Sonata starting at $19,915

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:51:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai's all-new 2011 Sonata goes on sale at dealers all over North America in the next few weeks and now it has an official price tag. The "fluidic design" challenger stakes a claim in the biggest segment in the U.S., starting at $19,195 (plus $720 for destination and delivery) for the GLS sedan with a six-speed manual transmission. That's $500 more than the base 2010 model, but $200 less than the current class champion, the Toyota Camry.

At launch all Sonatas are powered by Hyundai's new direct injected 2.4-liter inline-four, paired with either manual or automatic six-speed gearbox. The GLS and Limited are rated at 198 horsepower while the dual exhaust on the SE rounds it up to a nice round 200 hp. A maxed-out Limited with navigation will set you back $28,115, including D&D.

The Sonata Limited is the first entrant into the mid-size segment to get leather covered heated seats front and rear, and the manual transmission GLS also tops the segment in fuel economy for non-hybrids with a rating of 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. We'll have our first opportunity to drive the new Sonata next week and we'll finally find out if the dynamics live up to its new styling. Make the jump for the full breakdown.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai prices the 2011 Sonata starting at $19,915

Hyundai prices the 2011 Sonata starting at $19,915 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: 2011 Hyundai Sonata debuts with style, four-cylinder only and less weight

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Click above for high-res image gallery

Cheap and inexpensive are not necessarily synonymous. Inexpensive is generally considered a positive thing. Cheap? Not so much. Hyundai automobiles have always been relatively inexpensive compared to their direct competitors. In recent years, the Korean company has worked extremely hard to rid itself of any talk of cheapness by improving quality, introducing an unprecedented 10-year/100,000 mile warranty and engaging in some remarkably clever marketing campaigns.

It wasn't always so. Way back in 1983, Hyundai first entered the North American market when the Pony hatchback went on sale in Canada. Two years later, the replacement for the Pony, dubbed "Excel" went on sale in the United States. To say that the launch did not go well would be the understatement of the decade. While those early Hyundai models were indeed cheap, the company nearly met the same fate in this market as Yugo.

Unlike the abysmal Yugo, Hyundai persevered. The company kept redesigning its cars, making each subsequent generation better than the last and extending its warranties to generate confidence in its products. More than two decades later, Hyundai is introducing its latest challenger, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, into what is arguably the most fiercely contested segment in the U.S. market - that of the family sedan. Check out our high-res galleries below, and then click through to the jump to read more of our impressions and check out Hyundai's press release and specifications.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading LA 2009: 2011 Hyundai Sonata debuts with style, four-cylinder only and less weight

LA 2009: 2011 Hyundai Sonata debuts with style, four-cylinder only and less weight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #143 - with automotive legend Denise McCluggage

Dan Roth — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Podcasts, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Acura, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Toyota, Volvo, Celebrities

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Racer, skydiver, magazine editor, and Automotive Hall of Fame inductee but a smattering of accomplishments that Denise McCluggage has racked up during her tenure as one of the car-craziest people on the planet. For Episode #143 of the Autoblog Podcast, Denise takes time to join Chris, Sam and Dan to talk about current automotive news and answer some of your questions. We start off what turns out to be a record-length podcast with the news of a lawsuit against Toyota by one of its former lawyers, and move on to talk about the Hyundai Sonata Photochop that turned up in a dealer's ad showing a close approximation of the 2011 car. We wrap up by waving the diesel flag and talking about Ford's new Scorpion engine before taking a couple of questions and calling it a night just shy of the two-hour mark.

Hit us up at Podcast at Autoblog dot com with questions, comments and feedback, check out the survey we've been relentlessly asking you to fill out, and thanks for the new reviews in iTunes - we even went popular! In the meantime, you can get your Weblogs podcast fix from our friends at Engadget and Joystiq. Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #143 - with automotive legend Denise McCluggage

Autoblog Podcast #143 - with automotive legend Denise McCluggage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reader Spy: Nearly undisguised next-gen Hyundai Sonata snapped in Dubai!

Chris Paukert — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata spy shots - Click above for image gallery

One of our loyal readers was vacationing in Dubai when he happened upon this nearly undisguised and totally unattended 2011 Hyundai Sonata mule. Sammy_R-Gti of assayarat.com explains that he was driving around on vacation and stopped to observe mid-day prayer at a mosque. When he emerged from said house of prayer, he spied the car parked outside of a neighboring spa resort (perhaps some engineers were taking a much-deserved break?), and our man was able to rattle off the photos seen here. Because Sammy_R-Gti (correctly) figured that whoever was with the car probably wouldn't want him photographing their quarry, our man didn't have time to take it all in, but he did gain perhaps the best look yet at Hyundai's pivotal new sedan.

As expected, the roofline and short rear deck indicates that the Korean automaker is going for a much more rakish look, adopting the 'four-door coupe' aesthetic that is so in vogue these days. Unlike earlier spy shots, Sammy has managed to score an almost completely undisguised look at the car's Lexus ES350-like headlamps and its simple three-bar front grille, as well as new details about the sheetmetal's contouring. Judging by the fact that this prototype was fitted with relatively high-profile tires and modestly sized steel wheels with covers, we're guessing that it is a base model.

Check out the gallery of images below. Thanks for the shots, Sammy!

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata - spy shots

[Source: Sammy_R-Gti of assayyarat.com]

Reader Spy: Nearly undisguised next-gen Hyundai Sonata snapped in Dubai! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2011 Hyundai Sonata interior

Chris Shunk — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:34:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata Interior: Click above to enlarge

We've already seen the exterior pics of the next Hyundai Sonata, and though the mule was well disguised, it had attractive proportions. What those images didn't reveal was the new Sonata's cabin, but a new spy shot shows a nearly production-ready interior.

The first thing that caught our eye in the Sonata interior is the dual cockpit design, giving the driver and front passenger their own living quarters. There also appears to be a smattering of high quality materials, which makes sense given the highly competitive nature of the mid-size segment. Though the steering wheel is partially blocking the center stack, it appears that Hyundai is taking a page out of the Volvo playbook by using similar HVAC controls. Volvo uses the silhouette of a seated occupant in button form, making it easy to choose hot or cold air to the floor, dash, or windshield. The new Sonata steering wheel looks positively hideous in the spy photo, but we're guessing that it's unfinished and won't look this unpolished in production form.

The Hyundai Sonata may still be a way from production, but the increased amount of spy photos surfacing tells us that this Hyundai is rapidly approaching its debut. At any rate, the Sonata is looking more impressive with each pic, and the final product looks like a lock to be a vast improvement over an already decent mid-size sedan.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Spy Pics

[Source: Hyundai Blog]

Spy Shots: 2011 Hyundai Sonata interior originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Rakish 2011 Hyundai Sonata draws closer

Chris Shunk — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata spy photos: Click above to view a gallery

Hyundai has really upped its game with new entries like the Genesis Coupe and Sedan, but right now its high volume products like the midsize Sonata are simply "good enough." The Korean automaker has already committed to big plans for Sonata, as it has promised direct injection and turbocharging for improved efficiency. A quick look at some well camo'd photos of a 2011 Sonata mule shows that improvements could come in design as well.

The most eye-catching dimension of the spy photo pictured above is a sleek, Volkswagen CC-like greenhouse. Hyundai even seems smitten with the ten-spoke wheel design of the VW, as the two alloys look like fraternal twins. Beyond the four-door coupe look, the 2011 Sonata mule is very well camouflaged, although you can see what appears to be some interesting surfacing above the front wheel well that could give it a beefier-looking stance.

Up front, the front grille and headlamps are exposed. The grille doesn't appear to be dramatically different than what we we see on today's Sonata, but there is no hiding the dynamic new shape of the mule's headlamps. The high-tech lights sweep around the corners, giving the impression that the 2011 model will sport a more rounded front end than the 2009 model.

We likely have a bit longer to go before the 2011 Sonata begins its strip-tease act, but photos in the gallery below at least look promising. Whether the next-gen Sonata will be good enough to take on the well established midsized monsters from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan will clearly be a question for another day. Hat tip to James J.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Spy Pics

[Source: BOBAEDREAM]

Spy Shots: Rakish 2011 Hyundai Sonata draws closer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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