Sensuous sportiness

First Motors, Hyundai’s authorised distributor in the Kingdom of Bahrain launched the eighth-generation of the Hyundai Sonata last Friday, featuring a sleek four-door-coupe look that highlights the brand’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language.

The redesigned Sonata enters the mid-sized sedan market with a distinctive exterior, premium interiors with the latest electronics and Hyundai’s latest SmartSense technologies.

“With this model, we are hoping to give loyal clients a reason to upgrade their vehicle and attract a younger generation of aesthetic-conscious drivers. Every aspect has been upgraded and you need to test-drive it to feel the magic!” said Ahsan Chishty, the general manager of First Motors.

The redesigned Sonata features a freshly styled cascading grille framed by distinguishing lighting and an entirely new rear. Chrome accents surround the daylight opening (DLO) and novel wheel designs complete the look. New bodywork is built on Hyundai’s latest third-generation platform, for a completely re-engineered driving experience.

Another highlight is its Hyundai-first LED daytime running lights – embedded in a chrome strip. The lighting strip appears as chrome when the engine is turned off, but lights up when the driver starts the car. When night falls, available LED headlamps with dynamic bending light illuminate the path ahead with supreme clarity.

Inside, the renewed centre stack and instrument panel echo the exterior. The trend carries down to instrument design and a strong three-spoke steering wheel. Piano key buttons for audio and HVAC controls give a quality look and touch. The instrument panel follows a winged shape inspired by stealth aircraft. Another clever feature is a Shift by Wire (SBW) gear selector, which is sleek and technologically advanced. It also takes up significantly less space than a traditional gear selector.

There is a 10.25-inch colour display audio touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration to entertain drivers and passengers, as well as a Qi wireless charging pad to keep smartphones topped up.

Sonata now adds a second-row USB charge port and at the heart of the AVN system is an exceptional Bose Premium sound system equipped with 12 speakers.

In terms of keeping drivers and passengers secure, there are six standard airbags and a wide range of safety systems including advanced driver assistance systems as part of Hyundai’s latest SmartSense technologies. The vehicle also boasts Smartstream engine and gearboxes to deliver enhanced driving performance and fuel economy. The new Smartstream engine comes with a capacity of 2.5ltr MPI generating 180 PS.

It is available for bookings and test drive in First Motors Showroom in Ma’ameer.