STUD or DUD? 2011 Sonata Spy Shots Reveal Radical Departure, But From Where?

Great scoop 009!

The ALL-NEW Hyundai CC Coupe ;)

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 2:49:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I hate to admit it but I actually like this. The interior looks like a cross of a CTS(the air vents and center console) and VOLVO (the A/C controls). The rear is great looking, the front is very lexus-ish. It looks more expensive than Sonata should be.

— fatandsassy (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 2:51:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Wow, this car is really a mish-mash of lots of designs, but done well.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 3:00:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 12   

Early to say dud or stud as the pictures are not very clear but a step forward in design from Hyundai. The grille is too big for my taste and the headlights are too curvy. Rear and interior is looking very nice though.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 3:03:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Looks like a Toy/Lex mixed up with CC.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 3:14:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

camryish! yuck

— carguy68 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 3:25:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -11   

What a stud! It might not be very original, but they're not at that stage yet. Now, they just need good looking cars, and that's it!

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 3:49:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

This is a Hyundai??? I think it's a stud! No matter that it possesses some design cues from other cars, this is definitely a step up. Hyundai is on a roll and very rapidly shedding their 'Bargain Basement' roots. They deserve a lot of credit for stepping to the plate.

— kuvakas (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 4:13:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

i think they're doing too much with that front, it's definately not of the norm, but also it's different from the other cars in it's class

— freshseth83 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 4:19:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

This new Sonata looks great! Hyundai is on a roll and this will certainly steal sales from Toyota, Honda, and all the other midsize cars out there. It may be a mash of many other designs, but it looks good. I see a bit of Audi A4/A5 in the rear with some Infiniti G sedan. Overall, very impressed!

— IVANURI97 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 4:28:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Honestly...looks very nice to me...is like mix of BMW with Volvo and Caddy with some Lexus touch.

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 4:31:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Not too shabby!

— lock (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 4:52:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Looks much better than the Lex,but i can see where they stole some ideas from. Theres not much to say bad about the looks. Front end is very luxary like.Rear is nice and clean,nothing crazy going on. The interior has a little bit of Infinity going on there with the navi controls. The navi also looks like it can be hidden with a cover that slides over it which is a nice touch. Not so thrilled about the AC vents and center console all one piece,but the car is a great overall design. Only flaw i see is the wheels look too small and the design is fugly. Hopefully they are just on it for testing.Nothing worse than seeing a nice,big luxary car sitting on 16's or disgusting looking wheels.

— rxh8me9000 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 4:58:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

We really need a edit button. Why everytime we ask for one,the agents just ignore us. Every other forum and website has one. WTF?

— rxh8me9000 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 5:01:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Willis

Not only the pictures aren't clear, there is also no information about engine(s). Therefore very less info and photos(in good light) to say whether stud or not. But no doubt looking very promising especially interior.
Maybe with this much info you can say stud or dud(in case of Asian cars, you always say dud, so easy for you).

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 5:08:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I think it looks very good. Trunk lid is very audi

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 5:36:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

ewwwwwwwwww

I really don't like that styling.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 5:37:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -12   

The interior appear to be a cross between an Infinity and Cadillac. The front end reminds me of the soon to be released Suzuki Kizashi and the rear is a blend of Infinity and BMW.
Got to hand it to them, they are on a roll with fresh product at a relentless pace.

— tecnopolis (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 5:50:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

It's not a dud, but it is nowhere near being a stud. It is just blah, I can't respect a car company that just rips off elements of other car brands. It will do ok and Hyundai seekers will like it.

— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 7:33:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Obvious design derivations aside... There's much more to this effort that truly works (well) than there are things to criticize. The hood sculpting that flows so seamlessly into the grill is strikingly well done; The rear end styling is elegant, taunt, muscular and brings to mind an Asian-interpretation of the Mercedes CLS (love that boldly sharp boot lip), and the interior (from what we can see) is far beyond anything in its class as far as design execution goes. If Hyundai nails the drivetrain/vehicle dynamics on this one, they'll finally make that crucial move from providing a car that people buy because they simply need transportation, to one that is actually desired... We'll See Soon Enough.

— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 7:42:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

This is a better execution of some Lexus-esque design cues than any recent effort from Lexus. The cabin design is more aesthetically pleasing than either the ES or the Camry, too. Imagine if it were appointed with high quality leather surfaces, brushed aluminum and burled wood accents. This should be Toyota's wake-up call.

— LuxuryFan (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 8:43:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Does it come with a karaoke machine?

I know I would feel like a disco duck driving the thing.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 9:49:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -14   

Hyundai shamelessly copies, same old same old.

Geez, is this Hyundai's 3rd attempt at building a cheaper Avalon?
CC and Jag tail. The interior dash is clearly last gen Lexus RX.

My friend from work who's originally from the UK is pretty unbias when it comes to cars (currently owns 2 civics, looking at minivans now that he's got 2 kids), he actually has European tastes. He commented that Hyundai's best move ever was stealing Honda's Accord design and renaming it the Sonata, forcing Honda to differentiate and basically screwing up the Accord the last couple of generations.
As for the minivan, he said no to VW because of price and he found out it was just a Chrysler. The Odyssey and Sienna are too expensive. Hyundai no longer makes one which leaves the cheap Sedona.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 10:23:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

So this car looks like a VW CC (A car thats a blantat Mercedes E-Class Rip off), a car which began its development stage after the Sonata even started to be developed?

Yeah, its offical you're Deulsional guys. Ok I will admit it looks a little Leuxs'y. Though, this work of art implores you admit we did a nice job with it, come on!!!???

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 10:54:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

This Interior came from the Genesis Coupe actually, which will be the standard for all American Hyundais in 2 years time, watch. Reap em an weap!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 10:57:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Definitely stud! As for readers complaining about derivative designs, keep in mind that Hyundai is in business to make money. Why not take proven design cues and incorporate them into your own car. Since this is their bread and butter model, it only makes sense to maximize their profit potential and market a car that will be marketable right at its launch.

— midwest5248 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 11:32:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You know what I like about our desire to go upmarket, is now that when anytime anybody says "Hyundai." The crowd roars like its WWE, and its the Bret Hart Montreal Screwjob.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 11:34:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Hyundai is moving upmarket. Why not have a Sonata that costs $2000-$7500 more let competes with Acuras and Volvos that cost $10000-$15000 more?

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 11:46:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

The Elegant Next Generation Hyundai Sonata is another bonafide entry into the Entry Level upmarket.

— HyundaiSmoke

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/21/2009 11:49:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

it is very influenced by other vehicles but, that doesn't the fact that it is attractive, and i dont even like hyundais!

— maximafan1 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/22/2009 12:25:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

From the center of dashboard (just a little below the navigation screen and where it curves in) the car's dashboard looks almost identical to the Infiniti G series! Not that thats a bad thing but take a look at an Infiniti G37 and the dashboard and air vents are identical!

— ExarSadow (View Profile)

Posted on 8/22/2009 12:50:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hyundaismoke,
Do you know what sort of incentives they already have planned when they launch the Hyundai Avalon in 2011? I guess Honda's plan worked, they made the Accord so unattractive that Hyundai didn't want to copy it.

First you said they were going luxury, then you changed it to upscale. Why has Hyundai been downgraded to simply upmarket now?

The Avalon is due for a redesign soon, so why would anyone buy the last gen Toyota Avalon from Hyundai when they can get the new one from Toyota? Gotta love how Hyundai even copied Toyota's grill texture and pattern from the Avalon. And people wonder why there's an inferiority complex going around.

To answer your question though. If someone's looking for an Acura, Volvo or whatever wears a designer name, they're not going to look at a Hyundai. If they want to settle for a lower cost econo box (you can call it upscale if you want), then they'll take a look at the Korean makes.

Price isn't a feature that keeps customers since its the easiest to erase. Hyundai's going to have to learn the hard way when Walmart starts selling Chinese cars.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/22/2009 2:27:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

"Do you know what sort of incentives they already have planned...." huu76. Have you looked at the financials of Toyota for 2009? Their business is off over 30% plus percent. Honda is also having its worse year here in the U.S. reporting double digit declines in the same percentage but not Hyundia/Kia. And before you think its based on price alone, look at the current gains from both Hyundai and Kia.

Unless you have been pulling weeds and you don't know how to count, Hyundia/Kia group are on track for 7% market share growth in a depressed auto market that has seen established brands struggling for slivers of profits.

Putting aside critiques of what this remotely reminds one of, the consensus is that this is a bold design and move upmarket for the Hyundai Sonata. It looks good and could be a big hit for the company here in the U.S. rivaling the dominant Asian imports.

— acronis (View Profile)

Posted on 8/22/2009 3:24:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

huu, I think GMOYOTA are the only ones scared of Chinese cars. Hyundai North American CEO John Kracik said that we welcome the Chinese into the US Market, and one day they will make the moves that Hyundai has made.

huu, Why you guys so scared of the Chinese? What you think they are going to be another bee in your bonet (Cough, Cough, Hyundai)?

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/22/2009 3:39:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Acronis,
Toyota barely has any incentives in Canada, save for a few leftover 2009s.
Hyundai basically is offering everything in Canada that they're offering in the US including new lower pricing. The only thing missing here is Hyundai Canada isn't matching the cash for clunkers.

Speaking of Cash for Clunkers, you'll notice Toyota is one of the highest volume brands because most customers were holding off purchases, but now that the gov't is giving away free money, they're taking advantage of it.
Hyundai has to match the clunker program inorder to move cars.

Yeah, Hyundai's design is boldly going wheren Toyota already went years ago.

All their incentives and they can only pull out 7%. They should be stealing sales left right and centre from GM and Ford. I can easily double Hyundai's sales by giving them away along with a voucher for 50% off their next Hyundai. Giving away cars is easy, making ones that people actually want is a bit more difficult.

Hyundsaismoke,
You really are delusional. The reason why Hyundai is making a desperate push out of the basement and paying off journalists for COTY awards is because they know China is about to flood the basement with "everyday low priced" cars that the Korean gov't can't afford to subsidize against in a war of who can burn money longer.

Sales will show, even in this garbage economy, the Camry and Accord conitnue to outsell their last generation counterparts from Hyundai/KIA.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/22/2009 6:27:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Toyota Design, is boring at best and its been the same stuff for 10 years, just light modifications to it. Hyundai designs change drasticlly every 5 years to something fresh, sure some is derivative, but only derovative. Toyota's Next Generation Corolla is a last Generation Corolla with different sheet metal.

Thats like putting cheese on a rice wafer to try to liven it up a little. Its the same with the IS too.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/22/2009 11:59:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

That car, from what I've seen and from the initial quality tests of their more recent products, will be a huge success especially if they stay at or near the same price point.

Hyundai is on the right track, kudos.

For those who call them copy-cats, yeah...., like the Lexus LS was such a huge revolution when it first came out.

Come on, give Hyundai a chance! They are building upon a model that works, granted pioneered by other makers, but that will enable them to create a niche and mark of their own in the future, no different than Lexus, Infiniti etc.

— kablaam (View Profile)

Posted on 8/23/2009 1:42:51 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

huu76 you're missing the whole point. I don't begrudge Toyota or Honda for having the market positions that they do here in the U.S. or elsewhere but you can't ignore the fact that they are growing market share.

Unlike Honda and Toyota, whose sales have tanked into the high 30% percentage points, Hyundai's sales have grown. It's ok for you to have a bias for or against a particular brand as long as you balance it with reality. In the car biz that balance is represented by the actual "number" of cars being sold.

Both Toyota and Honda have a larger footprint than Hyundai, so in reality Hyundai should be doing much worse than both of them, instead its just the opposite.

— acronis (View Profile)

Posted on 8/23/2009 6:16:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Meant to say you can't ignore the "fact that they aren't growing market share".

— acronis (View Profile)

Posted on 8/23/2009 6:18:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Oh huu's just being the Toyota loving asshole in denial. Something happened to huu's brother's Tiburon like 10 years ago when the Tiburon was a shit box. He doesnt realize that the Tiburon was not Hyundais best product in terms of relibality. Its always had Tranny problems huu, its over man.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/23/2009 6:30:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Actually, something did happen to my cousin's Tiburon (the baby Supra model), the sunroof switch burned out the first week he had it.

Hyundai's designs are drastic because they go from copying Honda, Toyota, Ford, then somebody else.

Acronis,
The only reason Hyundai can afford to sell their cars at a loss is becuase the Korean gov't protects the home market so much (Hyundai/KIA own 80%) that they can afford to give cars away here. Did you know Hyundai makes more money on each car sold in Korea than in the United States? That and they don't need to spend money on R&D or design, they let Toyota and Honda do that for them.

You're wrong about Hyundai, they should be less affected as they have smaller operations in N.America, just like VW and Audi.

You may have missed that Hyundai will match the cash for clunkers meaning people can get upto $9000 off the top before adding in any of Hyundai's other incentives suck as mailing cheques to customers for buying their cars, 0% financing, lower pricing, gas cards etc. As I said before, I can double Hyundai's sales if they simply let me give them away for free.

BMW's sales were staying level for a while because they were offering up Hyundai-like incentives but even that couldn't keep them afloat.

Kablaam,
The 1990 LS was a huge revolution, it offered the first computer controlled air suspension on a car (not even BMW or MB had this) and is one of the most reliable cars in history.
Also, the LS400's original interior looked nothing like the competition's (unlike Hyundai and KIA) and it was even more upscale and attractive than the 1995 Mercedes cars.

Everybody knows, its just a matter of time before they admit it, if the Koreans didn't discount their cars, nobody would buy them.
Hyundai even had to discountue their mini-van because everybody was willing to pay a little extra for the real deal than a copycat of the last generation original. Can't wait to hear your excuse for that one smokey.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/23/2009 10:49:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Hyundaismoke,
Here's proof why Hyundai's design changes are so drastic.

1990 = Toyota Sprinter
http://www.cargurus.com/images/2007/11/22/14/05/pic-54026.jpeg

1993 = Mercury Topaz
http://autodata.ibsrv.net/images/?IMG=U3HYGED1.jpg&WIDTH=425

1999 = Ford Taurus
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/99-00_Hyundai_Sonata.jpg

2002 = Mercedes C-class
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/2002-
2005_Hyundai_Sonata.jpg

2006 = Honda Accord
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2006_Hyundai_Sonata_ext_1.jpg

Today = Toyota Camry/Avalon.

Hyundai's history shows that they copy those they admire the most or those they're most envious of.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/23/2009 11:28:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Yep onetime, Honda will soon start copying Hyundai. Have you seen their skectches for their next gen Civic? Probably the worst looking car to come out in a decade, YUCK!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2009 12:51:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

parts is parts. i think the young folks are calling it a mash-up or something. when hyundai offers an optional sport model 3.8l 7spd sequential auto with awd it will get interesting.
maybe a police interceptor model is in order too.

— dodgedart (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2009 1:11:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Well in Korea V6 Sonatas are used as police interceptors. They will offer AWD dart in the Sonata Sedan and Sonata Touring (Portico). They wont offer a V8 though, but they have a 300 HP 6 on the pike.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/26/2009 10:06:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

onetime,
I'm pretty certain the 2006 Sonata came out after the 1999 Honda Accord (everything but the headlights) and 2002 Honda Accord Euro (the headlights).

Hyundaismoke,
Doesn't take much when all you do is chase around 600cc KIAs. The Police probably aren't allowed to buy anything but Korean either.

As for the next gen Civic, Honda's plan must be to make cars so ugly even the Koreans wouldn't copy them. Worked with the Accord, they managed to unload the Koreans onto Toyota.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/26/2009 11:56:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1