PREVIEW
As automotive life cycles go, the current Hyundai Sonata's run will be brief. When the 2015 Sonata arrives, it will displace a model introduced only about four years earlier. The new Sonata, however, will benefit from its predecessor's work. The current model was among the first in Hyundai's lineup skinned with the company's new design aesthetic of striking aerodynamic curves and surface creases. The new look not only elevated Hyundai's profile with buyers, but also raised the bar for design among staid midsize sedans.
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata isn't likely to repeat that trick. If we can glean anything from spy photos, it's that Hyundai will dial the Sonata back from the future a bit and align it more closely with the larger Genesis and Equus sedans. The basic proportions and roof line appear similar to the current model. Expect a larger grille set into a more upright front end and a taller hood line, design concessions that satisfy European pedestrian safety regulations. Headlights are likely to use full or partial LED elements.
Bigger changes come under the hood. The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder from the Hyundai Veloster could replace the existing 2.4-liter as the base engine, while the current turbo 2.0-liter will likely carry over, its 274 horsepower seemingly enough to compensate for the absence of an optional V6. Expect a six-speed automatic transmission with either engine.
The redesigned Hyundai Sonata will debut at the 2014 New York Auto Show and go on sale in the fall of 2014. Given the hyper-competitive nature of this segment, the sticker price shouldn't budge much. The current model starts at $21,350. Check back for a full review of the 2015 Sonata, including specs, driving impressions and buying advice as it becomes available.
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