First unveiled in Korea, in March this year, the seventh-generation Hyundai Sonata is reportedly headed for the Chinese market. According to Car News China, the stylish D-segment sedan will be manufactured in the country starting November 2014, ahead of its official debut at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2015.
The report also states the all-new generation model will go on sale in the local market in March next year. Interestingly, the vehicle will be built by the Beijing-Hyundai joint venture that manufactures the sixth generation, the fifth generation, and the fourth-generation Sonata. With the introduction of the seventh-generation model, it seems Hyundai will finally drop the fourth-generation model which has been around in the Chinese market since 2002.
When launched, the seventh-generation models will be powered by a 2.4 litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with 168bhp of power and 201nm of torque. The other option is likely to be a turbocharged 2-litre engine with 200bhp and 252nm. Prices are likely to start at around the Rs 15 lakh mark for this new model.
The styling of the seventh-generation Sonata is heavily based on Hyundai's HCD-14 concept shown at the 2013 New York Auto Show. The interior, meanwhile, takes inspiration from one of Hyundai’s most popular global models, the Genesis. In the Indian market, Hyundai currently sells the sixth-generation Sonata which is not exactly a slow seller, but with the ever rising competition from other D-segment models as well as a few premium compact crossovers means that the Korean automaker may have plans to introduce the seventh-generation model sooner than expected.
Source: carnewschina
