We've already seen photos of the new Hyundai Sonata mainly in Korean-spec. Hyundai has officially unveiled the 2011 Sonata at the LA Auto Show. Right off its clear that the new Sonata is a huge departure from the last generation. The new Sonata features a new, much sexier exterior that draws inspiration from the Volkswagen CC and Mercedes CLS. The three-box design of the fifth-generation Sonata has been replaced by a car with a more coupe-like roofline.
Under the hood the big change is that a V6 engine will not be offered. At launch the only engine that will be offered is the recently announced 2.4-liter direct injected four-cylinder. 90% of the previous Sonatas were sold with four-cylinder engines, so it makes some sense that Hyundai has decided to fore go the V6 with this generation. In GLS and Limited trims the four-cylinder puts out 198 hp and 184 lb-ft. or torque. The SE model gets dual tailpipes and an extra two horsepower and 2 lb-ft. of torque. Hyundai estimates that the 2011 Sonata will get 23 mpg city and 35 mpg compared to 22/32 mpg for the 2010 model.
