The Hyundai Sonata
was built for the American market. It is a mid size sedan. Its
production started in 1989, it was redesigned in 1993, 1995, than in
1998 and 2000 and the last redesign was in 2004. 1989
After
the success of Hyundai´s model Excel first Sonata came as a part of
expansion for North America. Excel had some parts from Mitsubishi,
but Sonata was in house design, but it still had some of Mitsubishi
engineering like its 2.4L engine with 110 horsepower which was used
for the US market. There were 1.8 litre (95hp) and 2litre (131hp)
engines for other markets. In 1990 new V6 engine arrived..it was a 3
litre. The US market got the new 2.0Litre engine in 1992,
which was replacing the old 2.4 Litre unit.
1993
The
modernised Sonata had a new shape, more like the Honda Accord
or the Mazda 626. Engines : 2.0 L , but there was a 3.0 Litre
, 142 horsepowered V6 engine option for some other markets
There
were other redesignes in 1996, 1998 and 2000.
2004
This
year a new and more robust model of Sonata was launched in Korea and
it was released for the rest of the world in 2005. Styling details
are similar to many other mid sized cars like Audi A6 or Honda
Accord. Engines: 2.0L, 2.4L and most powerful 3.3L with 235
hp. The latest news are that its production for US models will
be in Montgomery, Alabama and it will start for 2006 model line up.
They hope to beat some of the competition such a best selling Toyota
Camry or Nissan Altima. The new Sonata is longer and wider
than older one. It is now classified as a "large car" in
the USA. Its starting price is at $18.500, V6 has a price of
$21.500.
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