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Hyundai Motor has unveiled its new ‘Prophecy’ Concept EV during a video presentation posted on http://globalpr.hyundai.com showcasing the key elements of its styling and technology. Featuring the timeless design of a classic car, ‘Prophecy’ is inspired by the company’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design philosophy. It embodies ‘Optimistic Futurism’, which focuses on the emotional link between humans and automobiles by balancing nature and technology, emotion and practicality.

The unveiling presentation also covered the company’s electrification strategy, with discussion among three executives: Thomas Schemera, Head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor Group; Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Design Officer at Hyundai Motor Group; and Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Marketing & Product at Hyundai Motor Europe.

Hyundai Motor Group is expanding its product line-up to include 44 electrified vehicles, and Hyundai Motor Company alone plans to invest almost 50 billion Euros for research and development into future technologies by 2025. The expectation is to sell more than 670,000 battery and fuel cell electric vehicles annually by this time, and to be positioned among the top three EV providers globally. In Europe, more than 75% of the line-up will be electrified by the end of 2020, and the company aims to supply almost 80,000 zero-emission vehicles to European consumers this year.

Prophecy: defining a bright future for Hyundai designs

Prophecy establishes a new standard for the EV segment. The extended wheelbase and signature shorter overhang of the EV platform give Prophecy an iconic silhouette of perfect proportions. The result is a new EV architecture defined by pristine surfaces, pure volume and harmony of aesthetics and functionality.

Prophecy’s exterior features a clean and simple uninterrupted streamline extends from front to rear. In addition, the pixelated progressive lighting technology is integrated into the headlamp, tail lamp and spoiler, reflecting design elements presented with the Hyundai 45 concept.

The interior design of Prophecy also leverages the advantages offered by Hyundai’s electric platform, which it shares with the Hyundai 45 concept. A key feature is the joystick steering system, which provides greater interior space and offers more expansive views and ergonomic seating for the cabin occupants. The atmosphere inside Prophecy is continuously refreshed thanks to integrated clean air technology.

It's better to evoke a strong reaction, positive or negative, than none at all. The 2020 Hyundai Sonata certainly follows this mantra, immediately setting the stage with unique styling that's sure to garner a reaction. But the Sonata is no mere one-trick pony -- instead, Hyundai's assembled a whole-ass package that oozes value and immediately pushes this new car to the top of its segment.

Funky outside, fancy inside

First impressions matter, which is why the Sonata's styling will either make or break it. It's hard not to have an opinion on the way the 2020 Sonata looks, but I'm of the belief that it looks pretty awesome. Bearing a resemblance to absolutely nothing else on the road, especially with my tester's Glowing Yellow hue, the car turns heads and begs questions from other drivers like no other midsize sedan I've reviewed.

Even if you disagree with the fish-face grille, there are so many cool little elements here. The LED running lights literally blend into the chrome strip that runs nearly the whole length of the car. The shoulder line gets sharper as it heads rearward, terminating at a dramatic rear end with little vortex generators on the taillights. The new Sonata hearkens back to a time when Hyundai placed a lot of weight on stand-out aesthetics, and I think this formula absolutely has the chance to strike gold twice.

While the outside is a love-it-or-list-it affair, the interior should appeal to buyers of all shapes and sizes. Here, the design is a little more sedate, opting for clean lines and shiny surfaces that feel like they'd be at home in any number of luxury cars. My SEL Plus tester's leather seats are smooth and supportive, and nearly every touch point up front feels fancy.

Despite the stylish cut in the Sonata's roofline, there's ample headroom in the rear, and legroom is more than sufficient for taller passengers. The trunk is equally capacious, and its wide opening makes stuff-shoving an absolute breeze. If that's not enough room for your junk, the center armrest has space for a decently sized purse, the door panels will handle plenty of crumpled-up receipts and the cubby ahead of the shifter is more than big enough for keys, phones and wallets. My only real complaint about the interior isn't unique to the Sonata. My tester's piano-black trim might look slick when it's clean, but hoo boy, it will pick up (and dramatically highlight) fingerprints like no other material. Unless you like that greasy look, I recommend keeping a cloth handy.

Cool and collected on the road

The Sonata's two biggest competitors, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, have both entered new generations with newfound dynamics that make each car more rewarding to drive in a spirited manner. The Sonata's been upgraded in this way, too, but having fun is not this car's focus -- until the Sonata N-Line shows up, anyway.

Instead, this sedan does a great job appealing to buyers who want something predictable and comfortable. The Sonata's new chassis does exhibit some more stiffness than previous iterations, but it doesn't come off as sporty. Static dampers soak up a good amount of the road's nastiness, only really transferring the most serious of movements to the cabin. Both road and wind noise are delightfully low, too, giving the car a slightly more luxurious feel than, say, a comparably equipped Accord.

That focus on sensible comfort makes its way to other parts of the car, too. The steering is suitably direct, with a lighter overall weight that prioritizes smooth inputs. The brake pedal is progressive enough to make smooth stops easy to execute. A standard eight-speed automatic transmission swaps cogs effortlessly with little feel translated to those inside.

While many Sonatas will make do with the standard 2.5-liter inline-4 gas engine, my SEL Plus tester rocks the 1.6-liter turbocharged I4 found on higher trims. 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque isn't exactly world-changing, especially when more expensive trims of Accord and Camry are pushing out between 250 and 300 hp, but the Sonata's torque arrives nice and low in the rev range, and I think most buyers will find its motive force more than sufficient.

The Sonata's output might be low, but its fuel economy is pretty impressive. The EPA rates the Sonata SEL Plus at 27 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. While I was closer to 23 mpg in the city, I'm beating the highway estimate by 1 or 2 mpg. Those figures are good, but they lag behind the 2.5-liter Camry and the 1.5-liter Accord.

In gross winter weather, the Sonata doesn't lose much of its composure, but I think a change of tires will do a world of good here. The standard 235/45R18 Michelin Primacy Tour all-season tires aren't that great on snow or ice, causing the clunky traction control to kick in frequently. All-wheel drive is not available, but with the right rubber, you should feel plenty secure with this front-driver.

Dripping with fresh tech

I have long been a fan of Hyundai's in-car tech, and the 2020 Sonata only reinforces my beliefs, in part because of its notable complement of standard equipment. An 8-inch touchscreen is included on all Sonatas, which is great, because I find Hyundai's system to be one of the best, offering easy access to major features and laying out information in a straightforward fashion. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, too, in the event you'd rather use what's most familiar.

My tester one-ups the de facto kit with not one, but two screens. The touchscreen on the dashboard grows to 10.25 inches, part of a $2,750 Tech Package upgrade, and I'm a huge fan of its configurable home screen that all but eliminates the need to swap between map and audio pages. This SEL Plus trim also sports a 12.3-inch display in the gauge cluster. Switching between vehicle modes introduces some cute graphics, but more importantly, it shows all the pertinent vehicle info I need with minimal distraction.

No matter where depleted batteries are in the Sonata, there's a port for 'em. My tester carries two USB ports in the front cubby, in addition to a Qi wireless charger. The rear seats make do with a single charger, but hey, it's better than nothing.

Nearly every one of the Sonata's myriad safety systems are included on every trim, covering automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. The optional Tech Package improves upon that kit with Highway Drive Assist, which combines all the aforementioned tech and holds the vehicle in its lane on the highway. HDA is quite good at maintaining its position on the road, but the steering rack's constant adjustments are felt rather prominently through the wheel, which will feel weird to drivers who aren't used to it. The hands-on system could stand to notify drivers to keep their hands on the wheel more often, too.

The 2020 Sonata also carries some new left-field tech, but it's not meant for everyone. Hyundai's Digital Key lets owners use their phones in place of actual physical keys, but it's only available for Android users, which means Apple users (like myself) are cut out from this tech. It's a bummer, but both platforms still get access to Hyundai's Blue Link connected-car app, which offers remote start, locking and unlocking and basic stuff like that.

Down to brass tacks

The midsize sedan segment was once the place to be, but even though crossovers have swallowed up a sizable chunk of its sales, this corner of the industry is producing some of the best metal it has in years. The new Honda Accord places a higher focus on driving dynamics, but its interior doesn't feel nearly as premium as the Sonata's. The latest Camry can wield a 300-horsepower V6, and it'll soon be available with all-wheel drive, but its style (and, again, its fanciness) lags behind the Hyundai's. If you think the Sonata is just a bit too much, sister company Kia has a new Optima on the way that is also very, very good.

The last couple generations of Hyundai Sonata were a little boring, with ho-hum anonymous aesthetics inside and out. It was a fine car, but it didn't exactly make a statement. The 2020 Sonata, on the other hand, screams its benefits from the mountaintops with an out-there design but the same focus on value that Hyundai has always held dear. Even if you're not exactly sold on the styling, the Sonata is worth your hard-earned money for so many other reasons.

Source: CNET Roadshow

Amid the impending debuts of machines like the Ford Bronco and Porsche 911 Turbo, one might overlook the redesigned Hyundai Elantra that’s currently in development. This is only the second time we’ve caught a prototype out and about, and it looks decidedly cold in the wintertime grip of Sweden – the same place where we recently caught the company’s new Santa Cruz pickup testing in the snow.

There’s still heavy black camouflage on the outside, but this time around there’s no swirl camo wrap underneath. Indeed, the bright red exterior provides an interesting contract for us to suss out details of the redesigned sedan, which actually just had a minor facelift for the 2019 model year. Our initial sighting suggested the Elantra would draw on design inspiration from the larger Sonata – inside sources tell us that’s the case and we can certainly see Sonata influence with this prototype.

The C-pillar looks very Sonata-like, and though the front fascia is concealed by covers, we can see more Sonata influence in the grille. Look closely and you’ll see the grille’s edges arcing upward from the lower lip to the headlights in a telltale Sonata fashion. Word is the small sedan will grow as well, but by exactly how much is unknown. It certainly looks bigger in these photos, which suggests the changes won't be minuscule.

We’ve heard nothing thus far regarding interior design or new technology, but there are some new rumors regarding power. The latest gossip says a pair of new turbocharged gasoline engines will be offered, one displacing 1.2 liters and the other 1.6. It’s possible a high-performance N edition could eventually arrive, and since there’s no stopping the advent of electric power, a hybrid version might debut later, too.

Speaking of the debut, current intel says the covers will be lifted sometime in the first half of this year, going on sale as a 2021 model.

Source: Motor1

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata looks good. Its manufacturer-suggested prices are good, too, especially given its design. Its entire aura is enough to make anyone have to squint in order to confirm that it does, in fact, have a Hyundai badge on the front. For an automaker aimed at affordability, that’s a feat.

For the most part, the car lives up to the expectations its design creates.

(Full disclosure: Hyundai provided travel to and lodging in Arizona in order to drive its 2020 Sonata and an N-Line prototype, along with providing a few meals.)

What Is It?

The 2020 Sonata is a complete overhaul of the last model year, trading the old car’s generic looks for ones that—whether you love or hate them, and whether they’ll age well or not—were unexpected. And unexpected, in a vehicle market where the average car looks really, really average, is commendable regardless.

 

While the Sonata is a global vehicle, such an evolution and ambitious design revision is almost necessary in terms of the U.S. vehicle market. Buyers here are all about crossovers and SUVs, choking sedan sales and killing plenty off in recent years.

There’s still a month left in the year, but Sonata sales won’t be near where they were at the start of the decade. They likely won’t even match last year.

 

Sedans, thus, need to get buyers’ attention if they even want a sliver of hope to lure them away from their more bloated competitors. But the new Sonata isn’t only a major styling update, giving the car the looks it needs to have in order to distract from the growing crossover and SUV market. It’s also a testament to what Hyundai wants to be: a company that offers more niche, enticing vehicles, like the Sonata N-Line performance variant will be when it launches.

The new Sonata has a lot going for it. We’ll just have to see whether prospective buyers agree.

Specs That Matter

The Sonata comes with a few engine and transmission options, if we include the N-Line, and base MSRPs for trims range from $23,400 to $33,300 excluding the N-Line. All regular Sonatas come with an eight-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive and a four-cylinder engine, but the bottom two trims have a 2.5-liter unit that claims 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque while the top two have a 1.6-liter turbo with 180 HP and 195 lb-ft.

If you’re into big wheels, that’s one place where the four regular trims differ that’s noticeable from the outside: the bottom SE will give you 16-inch wheels, the SEL has 17s, and the SEL Plus and Limited both come with 18s.

Most of the safety features available on the top Limited trim are also standard on the lower ones, with the exceptions of: parking-collision avoidance assist; blind-spot view monitor, which puts a blind-spot camera on the instrument cluster when a turn signal comes on; and highway driving assist, which helps the car stay in its lane and at a safe distance behind others. That means even the $23,400 Sonata will have assistance systems for things like collision avoidance in certain situations, lane keeping, lane following, smart cruise control, and automatic high beams.

The N-Line, comparatively, will make a Hyundai-estimated 290 HP and 310 lb-ft of torque when it comes out, and still be front-wheel drive. It will have an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and 19-inch wheels that aren’t available on other Sonatas.

What’s Great

Everything inside of the 2020 Sonata’s top Limited trim feels decent, and that’s all, which is a testament to both its exterior looks and the fact that modern cars are just really good. It has a comfortable ride with a bit of road and wind noise, and passengers can feel bumps in road well but not distractingly. Ride quality is very average—the Sonata’s suspension is no pillow, but it’s also not bad.

From the driver’s side, the interior of the Sonata looks well thought out. It’s big, shiny screen isn’t distracting, and the consolidation of buttons for features like seat heaters is a nice effort toward an uncluttered interior. There’s a huge amount of pocket space in the doors compared to the usual divot that only holds a smartphone vertically, a standard wheel heater if your hands get cold, and ambient lighting, if you’re feeling it.

The big center screen allows for easy app navigation, and the instrument cluster is put to good use: Digital gauges will splash to red when the car changes into sport mode, and the blind-spot monitor that comes standard on the Limited trim is helpful in a way that isn’t jarring. Unlike blind-spot monitors that wail with beeps if anyone or thing is in the intended lane when a turn signal comes on, the Sonata simply trades out a gauge temporarily for a video view of who or what might be over there.

But where the Sonata really does well, at least in its top trim, is the technology. In addition to all of the non-invasive safety features on the Sonata, reminders to grab the wheel from the assistance features aren’t annoying during highway driving, and across several minutes in traffic with lane-keep features on, the wheel only inadvertently nudged itself to the side a couple of times.

The Limited trim also comes with a standard 12-speaker sound system, which is optional on other trims except the base SE. It’s easy to see how good the system is when you pop on over to the “Sounds of Nature” section in the infotainment screen, which will make you feel like you’ve been transported to the middle of the Rainforest Cafe. (Or my idealized, magical version of what that sounds like, since I haven’t been in years.) Certain trims and packages on the 2020 car also come with features like Blue Link and the Hyundai Digital Key, with the former—which is complimentary at first and then costs money—allowing drivers to check up on their vehicles and remote start or lock them from certain devices, and the latter allowing owners to give people temporary digital keys to their car. But don’t get too excited for a digital key if you have an iPhone, because they’re not yet compatible.

What’s Weak

The interior of the new Sonata, while an improvement from the last one because it cleans things up a bit, is almost too basic. It could use a few accents simply to catch the eye, and that’s particularly noticeable on the all-black interior—it’s almost like staring into a well, up until the jarringly light gray headliner.

 

And while the car feels decent overall from the inside, looking closely will lead to some disappointment. Its overly simplistic interior is paired with too much noticeably cheap and plastic-like material, which is most obvious on certain parts of the door trims and centerpieces up front. It’s especially evident given how striking the car is from the outside, and from the front passenger seat.

That’s because the experience for the front passenger is just lacking. That’s the best way to put it. Some vehicles, like the new Sonata, are all about orienting the interior toward the driver—screens and center controls pointed their direction, making both an awkward reach of the passenger—which ends up leaving the passenger in a bucket of barren nothingness and feeling disengaged in the car. That, then, makes the flaws of the interior more noticeable.

 

The actual driving experience is another place where the regular Sonata isn’t impressive, and that’s also probably due to its styling. The car just looks special whether you like the style or not, but its gas pedal provides nothing special in return, groaning at the press of your foot and not providing much actual pickup.

Sport mode in the car will give a driver more aggressive sound and the feeling of a quicker acceleration, but overall, the actual act of driving the Sonata isn’t that interesting.

 

The Sonata thus looks sportier than it feels, which is probably fine for most of the people considering it.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is the kind of car that, without the “H” on the front, those unfamiliar with it might wonder what (stylish) planet it came from. But it’s a car from this planet, and it comes with a starting price affordable by most people who have the budget to buy a car new.

And while the Sonata’s looks and safety features might be its best aspects, that doesn’t mean the areas that fail to stand out in comparison—interior styling and performance, outside of the N-Line—are bad. They’re just not quite as good as the high bar the rest of the car sets, but they sure are good for the price.

Automakers know buyers aren’t flocking to sedans like they did, or even paying much attention to them in the crossover era. The Sonata’s tanking sales since the early 2010s prove that, and prove how the same old thing won’t work anymore if companies want to level out the sedan drop.

Hyundai has done its part, because unlike its predecessor, the 2020 Sonata is far from the same old thing. But, like everything else, buyers will decide whether the effort was enough.

Source: Jalopnik