Hyundai Sonata NFC “Ling Xiang”: redesigned Sonata NF for the Chinese market

Hyundai Sonata Ling Xiang

Hyundai, or rather BeiJing Hyundai has created this new look for the Sonata based on Chinese tastes and preferences, which seems right now to be in tune to a wackier version of the Toyota Aurion/Camry. Since the Sonata NF was designed to look a certain way, the Sonata NFC (NF China?) ends up looking like a mish-mash of the front and rear ends of another car slapped onto the mid-section of the Kia Optima.

The Sonata NFC will be called the Hyundai Ling Xiang in China, in order for it not to be confused with the Hyundai Sonata NF. It measures 4,815mm x 1,832mm x 1,475mm with a 2,730mm wheelbase. Price tags come in at 155,800 yuan for the baseline 2.0 litre model (cheaper than the cheapest Sonata NF at 165,800 yuan) and up to 228,800 yuan for the top of the range 2.4 litre model. There are a total of 6 variants.

Other than the different exterior looks, the interior also gets better rear seats to ensure a more comfortable ride for the rear passengers.

Coming up next: Beijing Hyundai is taking the previous generation Hyundai Sonata platform to develop another D-segment sedan that will slot in at a cheaper price than both the Sonata NF and the Sonata NFC. Production of the Sonata NF has now ceased as this Sonata NFC replaces it.

Hyundai Sonata Ling Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

Hyundai Sonata Lin Xiang

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • aksMs (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 7:20 am

    i thought i was looking at a toyota camry.u sure it the sonata, paul? hehe..

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  • autojohndoe (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 7:42 am

    yep… it looks like a toyota…

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  • 4G63T DSM (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 7:57 am

    It doesn’t look half bad.

    Yes, it reeks of camry. But I like the interior.

    And its technology packed. I’m sure this is one of the first production cars that can drive itself. I mean look at pic 7. ;p

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • corolla_KE70 (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 8:02 am

    Copy-cat…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Fridz (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 8:45 am

    Is this a copy-cat or rebadge version?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • farghmee (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 9:03 am

    the front&rear looks are “similar” to that camry.
    however, the side profile seems to be out-of-proportion?

    offtopic>>
    i like camry.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ralliace (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 9:24 am

    corolla_KE70 said,

    Copy-cat…

    =============================================

    Interseting that you said that……

    Hmmmm, I wonder which other car manufacture is famous for being copy cats?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ignas (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 9:27 am

    looks like deformed camry.

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  • scottloeb (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Pathetic Koreans. Stealing possible Camry customer. Mentang2 China piracy law tak strict.. apa lagi, Proton/Europstar copy lah BMW/Merc C-Klass baru.. aku suka seh ..

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  • schdmitz (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 9:49 am

    v nice cetak rompak product!!!shame of the china ppl……always copy….copy…..copy…non stop….

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  • lambov12 (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 10:02 am

    dont be such stupid until copy the whole camry nicely ..
    make some modifications …

    dumb ..!!

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  • jolly_idiot (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Why Hyundai like to copy? Can’t they come out with their own? Even Proton does have their own trademark design. Shame Shame…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • zanggief (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 10:11 am

    Why Hyundai allow such a copy…..I guess that designer must be think on Camry quite some time……

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  • BB (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 10:21 am

    i always compare the product with the cost. the sonata 2.0 just cost RM70k, i believe it has its own market, even malaysean will purchase if this car sale at this price in the boleh-land. korean copy-cat japanese? i don care… it is commercially useless if we design ownself but no one buy!

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  • rodimus (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 10:43 am

    Wow!! They do some things good looking from copying…… But wat the heck, japanese also copy the us/euro at first la. Btw i like the interior design of this car hee hee :p

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • layman (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    This car look better than the Apek Camry.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • hyundai (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    Hope that NFC can revive Beijing Hyundai’s D-segment market…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • e-nabilll (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    enough copy and paste job la…its embaressing

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • BW (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    ha? i tot it’s face lift camry!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • sagaKNIGHT (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    hyundai socamry…
    =))

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  • kei9 (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    lOOKS good.

    Really have some Chinese-influenced design in it. Kudos

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  • AmiR (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    scottloeb said,

    Pathetic Koreans. Stealing possible Camry customer. Mentang2 China piracy law tak strict.. apa lagi, Proton/Europstar copy lah BMW/Merc C-Klass baru.. aku suka seh ..
    _________________________________________________________________________

    hahaha…proton copy lar Aston Martin ka, Ferrari ka, Lamborghini ka…baru best siut!!!…x laju pun x pa…kita nak body design jer…Engine kita leh upgrade sendiri!!!!…:D

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • pepperarmyz (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    instead of camry, the Perak government should buy this car for their excos

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  • Ralliace (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    Many here have conveniently forgotten that Proton and Perodua also literally copied the Mitsubishi and Daihatsu/Toyota models. Itu tak ape ke?

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  • mct (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    4G63T DSM

    tat is gps , and this thing is just used to navigate not drive the car =.=

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  • legacy88 (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    Copy or not, it’s sure better than ahem ahem our national disgrace. :)

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  • ericfoong81exe (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    Saw this Hyundai sonata many time and long time ago at Genting. Nothing new and very much similar as camry. Quite dissappointed with Hyundai which allow thic Copy Cat product to be marketed. Now being influence by China, the front look very same with the BYD new F6 if not mistaken.

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  • autojohndoe (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 4:47 pm

    legacy88 said,
    December 31, 2008 @ 3:59 pm

    Copy or not, it’s sure better than ahem ahem our national disgrace.

    ************

    who? modenas?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mystvearn (Member) on Dec 31, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    Hmm, no long wheel base version for this car as chinese like to elongate their cars

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  • MyviKiller on Dec 31, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    Camry? I thought it was the Mark X from the 1st picture!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Crossfire on Jan 01, 2009 at 1:48 am

    camry clone!

    hyundai, it’s bad for you!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • tokmoh (Member) on Jan 01, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    AmiR said,

    December 31, 2008 @ 1:16 pm

    scottloeb said,

    Pathetic Koreans. Stealing possible Camry customer. Mentang2 China piracy law tak strict.. apa lagi, Proton/Europstar copy lah BMW/Merc C-Klass baru.. aku suka seh ..
    _________________________________________________________________________

    hahaha…proton copy lar Aston Martin ka, Ferrari ka, Lamborghini ka…baru best siut!!!…x laju pun x pa…kita nak body design jer…Engine kita leh upgrade sendiri!!!!…:D

    >>> Persona (n gen2) got Hoffmeister kink, copy BMW la tu :) Even pre-facelift gen2’s rims n meter reminds me of pre-facelift BMW Z4. :D

    Got proton pm5 concept before, many say it looks like aston martin from back…

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  • seat-belt (Member) on Jan 01, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    i though that dis is the camry facelift…unfortunately, it was a cetak-rompaked camry with nissan sentra’s rims:-
    http://images.paultan.org/sentra_gal_med02.jpg

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  • gajen (Member) on Jan 01, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    What a copy…of camry..in every way

    Camry is way better looking, better quality….hyundai is just trying to steal buyers who cant afford a camry but wants a camry..ridiculous

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  • Xx- Ferrari -xX (Member) on Jan 02, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    Hyundai got no-brain to think edi !!!

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  • Xx- Ferrari -xX (Member) on Jan 02, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    guyz… if u take a look at da interior…. the centre dsahboard is copied from harrier….

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  • Wisdom (Member) on Jan 03, 2009 at 1:56 am

    This time it looks like camry. last generation looks like accord. before that, looks like jaguar.

    Sonata never has its own identity.

    And it aged fast, design wise and technical wise.

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  • Aaron Ch'ng You Liang (Member) on Jan 05, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry

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  • Sex is wonderful, but it's like champagne.If you're forced to have four glasses at every meal you start to fantasize about water. (Member) on Jan 08, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    yuck, so toyota looking

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Arvin Wirtantobi on Mar 06, 2011 at 12:28 am

    Belum ada promosi Geely.
    Geely FC,FC2,MK RSi,MPV & SUV
    Segera dimulai April 2011
    Toyota Land Cruiser 200 dijual Mei 2011.

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