A Sneak Peek at the 2018 Hyundai Sonata

     

     The new 2018 Hyundai Sonata has just been spotted on Facebook. The producers at Hyundai have leaked the sketches for the latest, sleekest, most improved proposal yet. The evolution of the Sonata is upon us. Automakers have reverted back to the essentials of the family sedan and incorporated them into the fresh sporty design. Autoevolution.com said, “Under the concept of “Dramatic Design Change,” the facelifted Sonata’s aim is to introduce “young sensibility” with styling cues borrowed from the all-new Grandeur.

     The new sketch illustrates four different Sonatas, which includes two older versions and two newer versions in the foreground. The car farthest left shows a teaser of what appears to be a turbo insignia, giving way to an added trim level.

     Hyundai continues to stick to the classic shape of the grille which is hexagonal, stretching down to the bottom of the front bumper, other vehicles that also have a similar grille include the 2018 Elantra GT and the 2018 Accent. The revamped Sonata also integrates an impressive hood design, quad exhaust, and sleek back end. The new design illustrates a variety of angles, it is likely that the production version will tone them down; however, the redesigned Sonata should be sleeker than before.

     When the new Sonata will be debuted or what kind of powertrain upgrades will be included is still unknown to the public. An article in Road Show by CNET rumored “Our friends at Motor1 point to rumors of a beefier, 260-horsepower engine on the Sonata 2.0T. The new Sonata could arrive as early as the New York Auto Show in April, but odds are Hyundai will throw out a few more teasers with more info before any proper debut.  

The Hyundai Ioniq

The Ioniq Hybrid possesses a 1.6 L gasoline direct injection 4 cylinder with an additional electric motor. That comes in at a combined net of 139 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque. It has a 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack to recapture otherwise wasted energy, returning it to power the electric motor. The Plug-In Hybrid has a similar powertrain with the exception of a more powerful 8.9-kwh battery pack that’s estimated to provide an all-electric range of more than 25 miles. The all electric version is quite different from the hybrids, sporting a 28-kwh battery pack that provides an estimated range of 110 miles via an 88-kw (120-hp) electric motor that is the car's sole source of propulsion. Each model, all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, is based on a vehicle platform designed to enhance efficiency, comfort and handling.

Natural air flow channels emphasize aerodynamic body lines and surface volumes. A sporty, hatchback-like profile is inspired by aerodynamic efficiency, complementing the soft lines and surfaces that trace the car’s outline. The main exterior distinction of the Hybrids from the EV would be the open and active grille shutters that cool the combustion engines for fuel efficiency and deliver a class-leading 0.24 coefficient of drag. Along with a clean, closed grille, the EV also gets a copper colored character line and interior detailing that are meant to create the impression of electricity flowing through the interior.

The interior of the Ioniq features a purified high-tech design concept that also brandishes its eco-conscious side. The pleasing surfaces and textures are the result of the inventive use of eco-friendly materials such as sugar cane and volcanic stone that highlight the assimilation of luxurious constituents with ecological appeal.

The Ioniq offers top of the line features including Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Smart Cruise Control, smartphone integration and wireless charging. The available MyHyundai with BlueLink App offers remote features that enable conveniences such as monitoring your battery levels and setting a charging time that lets you take advantage of lower, off-peak electric rates. It also comes standard with a 7-inch color touchscreen display with Bluetooth integration, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a rearview camera.