2020 Hyundai Sonata
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More pictures of the all new Hyundai Sonata for 2020. (also HERE and HERE)
And it still looks like a very nice design. More modern than the current model.
Hyundai and Kia are rumored really improved the driving dynamics of both cars. Which could really make these two some of the best choices today for a mid size sedan.
There seem to be no bad choices these days, really. It is mostly a matter of taste and design preference.
Glad to see that, as expected, some design cues from Le Fil Rouge Concept made it into the production car.
it is very toned down of course, but a bit of that personality is still there.
And, again, this car really begs for a hatch. With that kind of design, there is really no excuse for a regular trunk anymore…
I learned that Hyundai designed the new Sonata first, then worked on the Le Fil Rouge Concept. As an engineer and novice in product planning, I'd wager it's too expensive and time consuming to design a concept car first, then a production model afterward. A concept costs $1 million, a production car costs $0.5 billion to $1 billion per model program.
As you've seen with Toyota's FT-1 and Lexus LF-LC concepts, it takes 5-6 years to take a concept and make it a real car, not 1-2 years or 9 months. So, the elements of the 2021 Sonata were toned up into the Le Fil Rouge. This car has been a done deal design wise the past 2 years, although locked-in some months after final styling selection.
Most of these "concepts" are merely highly stylized previews of an upcoming model or redesign. Stuff like the FT-1 and Supra, are the real deal with "translating a concept from scratch into a production car". I really wish people would figure out the difference and not mix this up so easily.
It is easy to order a redesign for an existing model line at 4-5 years before release, then decide after internal final design approval (2.5 years before release), to create a fancier version )with less regulatory limitations) for auto shows that employs cues of the upcoming car, without leaking too much too early. Case in point with Sonata vs LFR.
That is not influencing or "inspiring anything (prod. car), other than maybe a mid-cycle facelift down the road. Nor is the production car "toned down", when it's the original in the first place. It's "toned up" into the concept car, but the concept car is shown first instead. Simply Automotive Development 101.
Mark my words, this Sonata and the new Kia Optima will be the new benchmarks in the midsize sedan class. They know they took a step back on the last generation model. They won't let it happen again.
Can’t wait to see this car! It’s looking like Hyundai may hiave possibly regained its styling mojo!
Interesting comments on the upcoming new Sonata design. I hope all the comments are true!