The swoopy new 2011 Hyundai Sonata was officially launched in the UAE, at a launch party in Dubai. The launch comes four months after the model was shown off at the 2009 Dubai Motor Show, and two months after a media driving event in Oman that we weren’t invited to.
Seemingly on a roll, Korean carmaker Hyundai has debuted two new versions of the redesigned Sonata, one a turbo model and the other a hybrid, at the 2010 New York Auto Show.
For what seemed like ages, there was no rain. But then when it finally rains, it pours. And we aren’t even talking about the stormy local weather. Nissan, Mazda and Jeep have joined the runaway recall bandwagon, while GM and Hyundai have managed to keep their noses clean in the UAE.
Bad news hit several automakers over the past few days, not least of which is Toyota’s continued pounding due to recalls. Hyundai and Suzuki have also joined the recall craze, while Hummer suffers from bad news of a different kind.
The redesigned 2011 Hyundai Sonata has finally had its first reveal outside Korea, at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. After years of producing boring clones of existing Japanese models, the new Sonata is so far “out there” that it makes even premium brands look cheap in comparison, even if it ultimately looks bulkier than its intended “four-door coupe” styling target.
Normally we do not bother with teasers, but these ones for the 2010-2011 Hyundai Sonata reveal enough to prove that the Korean carmaker is going to have sleekest midsize sedan ever in this conservative segment.