April 27, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor on March 8 unveiled the facelifted version of its popular Sonata midsize sedan, with aims to sell 92,000 units this year.

“We set the sales target for Sonata at 92,000 units this year,” Lee Kwang-guk, executive vice president of Hyundai Motor told reporters at the car’s unveiling event. “The target is up by 12-13 percent, considering Sonata sold 82,000 units last year.”

Hyundai Motor Executive Vice President Lee Kwang-guk, who heads the domestic sales division, poses with the new Sonata New Rise at the launching event in Seoul on March 8.

The Sonata New Rise, revised from the seventh-generation Sonata launched in 2014, highlights a drastic change in the exterior, featuring the automaker’s trademark cascading grille in larger size, sleeker headlights, revised bumper for a sportier look.

“The dramatic design change is in align with Hyundai Motor’s design trend that evolves quickly in response to customer’s needs and changes,” Lee said at the event. “The Sonata New Rise will blow a fresh wind in the competitive local midsize sedan market.”

It comes with additional safety features, including the lane keeping assistance system and its advanced smart cruise control system to assist drivers, along with an autonomous emergency braking system.

The new Sonata comes in four engine types: 1.6-liter turbo gasoline, 2.0-liter turbo gasoline, 2.0-liter gasoline and 1.7-liter gasoline. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid version of the car will be released within this year, the company said.

The 2.0-liter turbo gasoline model has an eight-speed automatic transmission, the first for a locally produced midsize sedan.

The retail price of the new Sonata ranges from 22.55 million won (US$19,702) to 32.53 million won.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)