Hyundai aims to widen client pool with turbo-added 2015 Sonata

South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. is, without a doubt, best known at home for its Sonata midsize sedan lineup, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year since the name first entered the market in 1985.
  

So far, the carmaker, under the wings of the world's No. 5 auto giant Hyundai Motor Group, has sold a cumulative 7.31 million units of its various editions under the Sonata label in 72 countries, according to the company's data.
  

Recently, however, other segments have become popular among consumers here, such as compact hatchbacks as well as various models of sport utility vehicles.
  

This may be why Hyundai has chosen to diversify the powertrains loaded onto its classic model in an effort to reach out to consumers with different tastes in cars.
  

"The local midsize car market is shrinking, and we've made an observation that it is part of a larger trend in which the lifestyles and the needs of our customers are changing in general," said Kim Sang-dae, Hyundai's marketing division director.
  

"In response to the changing customer needs, the Sonata brand will be prepared with seven different powertrains," Kim said, adding that by doing so, the company aims to once again pull up the Sonata brand as the country's most representative vehicle, "with the likes of where the Golf stands in Germany."
  

The different variants include the already-introduced gasoline engines from 2013 and the Sonata hybrid that began sales here in October. Others such as the country's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle as well as additional diesel and turbo engines will be released during the latter half of this year, Kim said.
  

The turbo-charged 2015 Sonata, also known as the Sonata sport in the U.S. market, is one such model for which Hyundai has loaded one of its new engines, which took 41 months of development, to draw in more buyers in the home market.
  

The latest model of Hyundai's flagship midsize sedan launched in South Korea has an in-house-engineered "new theta-i" 2.0-liter turbo gasoline direct injection powertrain with an output rated at a maximum horsepower of 245 and 36 kilogram-meters of torque.
  

Hyundai officials have emphasized that for the latest turbo engine, they've focused more on bettering response to acceleration and fuel efficiency.
  

The new Sonata turbo has been tested to achieve a combined fuel economy of up to 12.1 kilometers on a liter of fuel, according to the company. In a 73-kilometer test drive, the 2.0-liter T-GDi powertrain, which claims to give out a maximum 10.8 kilometers on a liter of gas, showed a combined fuel efficiency of 10.3 kilometers per liter.
  

Throttle response was swift with the turbine's lowered rotation frequency at 1350 revolutions per minute. When the drive mode selection, which has three different options, is set to "sport" mode, the response to acceleration seemed especially deft, all the while providing a stable driving experience with a weighty feel that is instantly added to the steering wheel.
  

Design-wise, Hyundai said it was going for an athletic and robust look to target younger customers looking for a fun ride.
  

The exterior is decked with a radiator grille that emphasizes a more solid look, a wide lower bumper and full-LED lamps in the rear. Inside, drivers can get their hands on a D-shaped steering wheel, squared off at the bottom for a sporty vibe. Colors are available in up to nine different shades, depending on the trim level.
  

Hyundai said it has set the target sales goal for the Sonata turbo in the home market at 5,000 units this year.
  

"Through our sincere efforts to improve the engine's performance, we hope to satisfy the different tastes of our customers," Kim said. "We believe (the Sonata turbo) will help to revitalize the Sonata brand."
  

The entry trim-level for the turbo-charged Sonata is priced at 26.95 million won ($24,268.35), while the Exclusive trim costs 32.1 million won. (Yonhap)