Hyundai Sonata – eighth-gen spotted in Kona teaser shot, hinting at Malaysian introduction after the SUV

Hyundai Sonata – eighth-gen spotted in Kona teaser shot, hinting at Malaysian introduction after the SUV

The Hyundai Kona, which will be making its Malaysian market debut in the next couple of months, has again been teased on a post on the Hyundai Malaysia Facebook page, but the upcoming SUV isn’t the highlight piece in the shot – rather, the car in the background is, and we’re not talking about the i30 N.

The car conveniently placed within the frame happens to be the new eighth-generation Sonata, suggesting that the sedan may be the next model to be introduced locally after the Kona, although exactly when remains to be seen. It will take over from the seventh-gen LF, which was phased out locally in 2018.

The new DN8, unveiled in March last year, adopts a new four-door coupe styling direction with plenty of design cues from the Le Fil Rouge (HDC-1) concept, and the sportback flow of the rear end is shown to great effect in the Kona teaser image.

The fresh exterior isn’t the only thing buyers will have to look forward to, because the Sonata’s interior has also been overhauled. A new dashboard layout, which is dressed with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, are among the visual highlights in the breezy, modern-looking cabin.

Nothing is yet known about the specifications of the local model, but there’s plenty of kit and options available for the sedan in global markets, and these include items such as a Bose Premium sound system, sunroof as well as ventilated front seats.

As for safety, the list is led by a nine airbag count and the automaker’s SmartSense suite of advanced driver assistance systems, which includes items such as advanced smart cruise control with stop and go, forward collision avoidance assist (AEB), blind-spot collision warning and lane keeping assist in its kitbag. With the Kona set to come equipped with SmartSense, the suite should be a given on the Sonata.

The powertrain for the local model also remains unknown. Global options include a series of Smartstream units ranging from a 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated GDI engine with 191 hp and 245 Nm to a 1.6 litre turbocharged GDI unit offering 180 hp and 264 Nm, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are also 2.0 litre MPI petrol and GDI hybrid options.

GALLERY: Eighth-generation Hyundai Sonata (DN8)

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • macampondan on Sep 04, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    sonata… ugly with no extra charge

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 7
  • (Like) 2020 Honda Accord 1.5T
    (Dislike) 2020 Hyundai Sonata 1.6T

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 17
  • Reliability First on Sep 04, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Cute Duckling competition mode on, Sonata V.S Accord

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • azrai on Sep 04, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    All new KONA? Do Hyundai just release a face lifted model last week?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Oww the Civic/Accord rear

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
  • seancorr (Member) on Sep 04, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    The new Sonata will get heads turning and the interior quality looks to be on par with Mazda by the looks of it. Hopefully they don’t follow the Accord/Camry pricing though…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Jonathan Khan on Sep 04, 2020 at 8:01 pm

      Follow Mazda6 pricing?
      Then d.o.a, RM174k to RM219k

      The missing car from the road:
      https://paultan.org/2020/05/15/gallery-mazda-6-2-0l-sedan-update-from-rm174k/

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Edwin L on Sep 04, 2020 at 11:07 pm

      You know why Hyundai sime & Naza kia phailed?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • AkooIm on Sep 04, 2020 at 5:48 pm

    8th Gen Hyundai Sonata is just around the Kona…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • mr1031 on Sep 05, 2020 at 9:57 pm

    last time we have dugong on the street, next we will have keli

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Typycalmalaysian on Sep 06, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    Sonata keli 2020 is around the Kona

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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