Indian Autos blog

If you think that the choice among Accord, Camry, Superb, Teana and Kizashi is a tough one, then you will not like this news. Choosing a winner will get a whole lot tougher with the introduction of Hyundai’s contender – The Hyundai Sonata YF/i45. A global replacement of the aging Sonata (a.k.a Sonata Embera), this car was the first one to benefit from the new ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design philosophy. The  [ Read More ]

The Hyundai Sonata (also known as the i40 and i45) has won the 2010 Australian International Design Awards in the Automotive and Transport category. This award is conferred to most innovative and best designs internationally.

The Hyundai ix35, which was also a finalist for the coveted award was awarded with a Design Mark. The reason for the two Hyundais doing so well in the Design awards is because of Hyundai’s new ‘Fluidic Scupture’ design direction.

Andre Hudson, Design Manager, Hyundai Design North America -

Fluidic Design is a Hyundai signature, a design language which will appear on future Hyundai volume models. It gives our range a unique and premium identity and defines Hyundai as a modern, progressive company. With i45, we wanted to deliver a strikingly modern shape, yet accommodate the wide variety of practical needs which sedan buyers require met.

This Design award is just one more feather in the new Hyundai Sonata’s cap as the new Sonata went off to a flying start setting sales records in many markets. The Hyundai Sonata with its upmarket looks and classy interiors poses a serious threat to global bestsellers Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Hyundai, the world’s 8th largest automaker has been very successful worldwide in the recent past. The latest 6th generation Sonata, which was launched recently has manged very strong sales worldwide. The latest Sonata YF has been designed based Hyundai’s new ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language and looks fantastic.

Hyundai recently sold its 5 millionth Sonata. Hyundai launched the first generation Sonata way back in 1985 in the Korean market and the Sonata was launched in the international market only in its second generation in 1988. The largest market for the Sonata is Korea, where it is the country’s bestselling car. The next biggest market for the Hyundai Sonata is the USA.

When Hyundai launched the Sonata in India last decade, the car managed decent sales and the Indian car buyer developed a liking for it. But competition in the form of the Accord and the Camry, later joined by the Superb dampened Hyundai India’s hopes on the Sonata. The next gen Sonata Transform was an excellent car it also managed only average numbers.

We hope the latest generation Hyundai Sonata YF is hopefully given a favorable ecosystem in India. It has the potential to take over its plush looking Japanese rivals with looks and technology. Hyundai would be bringing the Sonata YF to India not anytime soon but in the distant future.

click through for press release

While Suzuki is firming up plans to introduce the Kizashi in India and the refreshed VW Passat set to be unveiled in Paris, we were curious to learn what Hyundai was up to with the Sonata YF (i40) in India.

We called up the company and this is what they had to say regarding the Hyundai Sonata YF‘s plan for India -

Hyundai’s Corporate Communications Head -

We have no immediate plans to launch the Sonata YF in India.

He declined to divulge any fixed time-line, and we infer the Sonata YF is at least a year or so away from a Hyundai showroom.
We also questioned him about the Santa Fe SUV, which according to the company in a previous statement would be launched this year. He was not forthcoming, and said no tentative launch date was decided.

The Sonata YF was unveiled in September last year and the Indian wing’ Managing Director at that time said the Sonata YF would come “sooner or later.” It seems like sooner isn’t any time soon.

Hyundai Motors Australia has launched an ad campaign for their new sedan the i45 (a.k.a Hyundai Sonata YF). This ‘Driven by obsession campaign’ is a rather interesting one, featuring water droplet technology that creates shapes from cascading water.

If you remember, the Hero Honda stall at this year’s Auto Expo had a similar arrangement for the Karizma ZMR.

It shows water droplets forming shapes as they hit the car & also a massive sword being thrust into the car. The Hyundai i45 is expected to debut in India this year.

Have a look.

Would you swap your Honda Accord/Skoda Superb/Toyota Camry/Nissan Teana for the lively Hyundai Sonata YF when it arrives in India by December this year?

YF Sonata – recalled in US and Korea

If there is one word, we are getting used to lately, it is “Recall”. Hyundai is the latest.

Yesterday, Hyundai have recalled 47300 Sonata’s in Korea and US. No problems in India as the model recalled is not sold here. Rather, the model “YF Sonata” has not been introduced in India yet. Just for the record, the YF Sonata also bagged the IIHS Top Safety Award for 2011 in US. The award is presented to the car that scores a good rating in front, side, rear and roll over crashes.

I must admit, this comes at a time, when Hyundai is actually doing well in the US. Considering Toyota’s problems, one of the biggest beneficiary in terms of sales in US is Hyundai. Of the 47300 vehicles recalled, only 1300 vehicles are from the US. That is a negligible number, but certainly one that the US market would not discount in the wake of recent trends.

The engine explained in this video is available on the new Hyundai Sonata sold in the US. This engine took Hyundai 46 months to develop and cost them $145 million!

This is a 4-cylinder engine with gasoline direct injection, dual valve timing and variable induction system. It can make about 200hp and can be bolted to either a 6-speed auto or manual transmission.