Hyundai has been successfully experimenting and turning quite a few heads with its Fluidic Design Language. Seen across on a major chuck of its lineup, the design language has been taken up a notch for its second version and is now called ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’. Hyundai has showcased this latest style philosophy in the 2015 Sonata which was unveiled at the 2014 New York Auto Show (NYAS), showing off a more mature and dignified look, also seen in the new 2014 Genesis sedan.
The Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 has let go of all the swooping lines of the previous car to adopt sharper lines and straight edges. The front of the car houses a sculpted hood, massive headlamps, a prominent grille and a bigger air intake below it, flanked on the two sides by LED DRLs. The side profile shows off new 10-spoke alloys and a coupe-esque roofline, giving the car a sporty stance. Internationally, the 2015 Sonata will continue to be powered by revised versions of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which churns out 245bhp and 352Nm of torque and the 2.4-litre Theta II GDI unit which produces 185bhp and 241Nm of torque.
Inside, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata has been given a complete premium makeover and features a new dashboard. The car is more ergonomic than its predecessor and has a more flexible and convenient switchgear placement. An 8-inch screen sits on top of the centre console and houses the latest version of navigation and infotainment systems. The car has also been loaded with a host of driver assists like collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alert systems. Other creature comforts include heated and ventilated seats, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beam headlamps.
We expect a half year wait for the 2015 Sonata to be launched here, after its international launch. Despite globally giving a tough competition to the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the current Hyundai Sonata hasn’t exactly set the cash registers ringing India, mostly due to the lack of a diesel mill in its range. Otherwise, the car has always been decently equipped for the price it demands. With this new Sonata, Hyundai has another quality product in its hand, but it will be necessary for the Korean manufacturer to bring in this car with a diesel mill and with a proper pricing strategy, to succeed in a segment largely dominated by the new Skoda Superb.
