For 2008, Hyundai has launched a mid-cycle refresh for the Sonata in Korea, where it is known as the Sonata Transform.
The rest of the world must wait until the 2009 model year to incorporate the changes. The U.S.-spec Sonata will bow in February at the 2008 Chicago auto show.
The rest of the world must wait until the 2009 model year to incorporate the changes. The U.S.-spec Sonata will bow in February at the 2008 Chicago auto show.
The Korean Transform receives minor visual upgrades—the design team says it didn’t want to mess with a design it considers to be successful. The bumper, the grille, and the headlights have been sharpened to help give the car a more edgy image. The Korean face lift also brings new alloy-wheel options.
The transformation continues inside, where almost all the interior plastics have been upgraded. A new center console, dashboard, and door panels are intended to project a more luxurious image than the current pieces. The sedan also gets dual-zone climate control, an auxiliary input jack for music players, and an ionization system that’s supposed to prevent mold growth. If that’s really a concern, we’re all for ionizing whatever we can.
Mechanical changes make up the biggest part of the refresh. A revised front subframe makes the Korean-spec Sonata safer in frontal collisions.
Mechanical changes make up the biggest part of the refresh. A revised front subframe makes the Korean-spec Sonata safer in frontal collisions.
The car heralds Hyundai’s next-generation Theta engine family, a version of the four-cylinder world engine that was a joint venture of Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and the former DaimlerChrysler. World engines are already available in such vehicles as the Dodge Caliber and Avenger and the Chrysler Sebring.
Hyundai (it took the engineering lead on the world-engine project) introduces Theta II powerplants that deliver more horsepower and torque while maintaining or improving on their previous fuel-economy figures. The engine improvements were made possible by a variable induction system and variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust camshafts.
In total, Hyundai will offer five engine choices for the Sonata Transform, but North American options are whittled down to two.
In total, Hyundai will offer five engine choices for the Sonata Transform, but North American options are whittled down to two.
The first is the DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder (Theta II) that will generate 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, up substantially from the current 2.4-liter four-cylinder Theta in the outgoing Sonata that makes 162 horsepower and 164 pound-feet. We expect the new 2.4-liter to eventually replace the 2.7-liter V-6 in Hyundai's lineup. The other option for the U.S.-spec 2009 Sonata is the automaker's 3.3-liter first-gen Lamba V-6 that produces 239 horsepower and 228 pound-feet. Take-rate on the V-6 is expected to be about 30 percent of total U.S. sales.
Additionally, Hyundai engineers tweaked the Transform’s five-speed manual transmission for easier shifting and revised the four-speed automatic (for markets outside the U.S.) and the five-speed automatic.Hyundai will begin shipping export versions of the Sonata early in the new year.
