John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, told IL that the new car will debut in Detroit, and that its design is "bold, so bold," which is meant to set the Korean car apart from its supposed "run-of-the-mill" Honda Accord and Toyota Camry competitors. Prototype photos have been circulating for a while now, indicating that Hyundai went for a more "four-door-coupe" look with the redesigned Sonata.
The latest Sonata is expected to use a four-cylinder as its base power plant (V6 is optional), and Hyundai may use direct injection to improve its fuel economy.
The company has also said previously that the 2011 Sonata will be offering the first Hyundai hybrid system that uses unique lithium polymer batteries. Called Hybrid Blue Drive, the system first debuted at the 2009 New York Auto Show in the Nuvis SUV concept, and combined a 2.4-liter four-banger with a 30-kilowatt electric motor to make 228 horsepower.
The standard 2011 Sonata will hit showrooms around summer 2010, with the hybrid following a year later.
The 2010 Detroit Auto Show runs from January 11-24 at the city's Cobo Center.
Inside Line says: All signs point to the fact that the 2011 Sonata will be a ground-breaking model for the Korean automaker, especially with the debut of its first hybrid system. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent
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