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A Hyundai you’ve never seen before : Sonata
A Hyundai you’ve never seen before : Sonata
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The Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) (KSE: 005380, LSE: HYUD), a division of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, is South Korea's largest car maker. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. In 2005, the combined sales of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group made it the world's sixth largest vehicle manufacturer. In Ulsan, South Korea Hyundai operates the world's largest integrated automobile manufacturing facility which is capable of producing 1.6 million units annually. The Hyundai logo, a slanted, stylized 'H', is symbolic of two people (the company and customer) shaking hands and its official global tagline slogan is "Drive your way".
Hyundai means "modernity" in the Korean language.
Chung Ju-Yung founded the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company in 1947. Hyundai Motor Company was later established in 1967. The company's first model, the Cortina, was released in cooperation with the Ford Motor Company UK in 1968. In 1975, the Pony, the first Korean car, was released, with styling by Giorgio Giugiaro of ItalDesign and powertrain technology provided by Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Exports began in the following year to Ecuador and soon thereafter to the Benelux countries. In 1991, the company succeeded in developing its first proprietary gasoline engine, the four-cylinder Alpha, and transmission, thus paving the way for technological independence.
In 1986, Hyundai began to sell cars in the United States, and the Excel was nominated "Best Product #10" by Fortune magazine, largely because of its affordability. The company began to produce models with its own technology in 1988, beginning with the midsize Sonata.
In 1998, Hyundai began to overhaul its image in an attempt to establish itself as a world-class brand. Chung Ju Yung transferred leadership of Hyundai Motor to his son, Chung Mong Koo, in 1999. [1] Hyundai's parent company, Hyundai Motor Group, invested heavily in the quality, design, manufacturing, and long-term research of its vehicles. It added a 10-year or 100,000 mile warranty to cars sold in the United States and launched an aggressive marketing campaign.
In 2004, Hyundai was ranked second in "initial quality" in a survey/study by J.D. Power and Associates. Hyundai is now one of the top 100 most valuable brands worldwide. Since 2002, Hyundai has also been one of the worldwide official sponsors of the FIFA World Cup.
In 2006, the South Korean government initiated an investigation of Chung Mong Koo's practices as head of Hyundai, suspecting him of corruption. On April 28, 2006, Chung was arrested, and charged for embezzlement of 100 billion won ($106 million USD), [2] with Hyundai Vice Chairman and CEO, Kim Dong-jin taking over as head of the company.
The Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size sedan built by the Hyundai Motor Company. Production started in 1987, with redesigns in 1993, 1998, 2002, and 2006.
The totally redesigned 4th generation Sonata was launched in August 2004 in Korea. A new platform also was created out of the project NF for total cost of 290 billion won. The company's first all-aluminum I4 engine, dubbed Theta, debuted in the new Sonata. Engine choices at launch were a 16-valve 2.0 L and a 2.4 L that produces 166 ps at 5,800 rpm.
The U.S. launch of the new Sonata kicked off with the historical opening of the first U.S. assembly plant for the Korea-based Hyundai Motor Company in May 2005. The plant is located in Montgomery, Alabama. Hyundai claims the car will launch to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.6 sec source: Car and driver, and have a top speed of 147 mph (236 km/h) which was not tested on a dynamo for the V6. But the car is frequently reported to be going at speeds beyond 160 mph (257 km/h) at Hyundai's proving grounds most likely due to the gear ratios of the sedan. A Canadian sports version was available which came with an optional 3.3 L 247 HP (184 kw) V6 engine a package which was optional extending the high end GLS V6.
2006/2007 models of this sedan did not receive a speed limiter, but U.S. officials are planning to put a limiter because of the powerful transmission when combined with the V6 version. Recently Goodyear, Arizona resident Lawrence Pargo was accused of doing 147 mph (236 km/h) in a rental Sonata. [3].
The new Sonata is 2 in (50.8 mm) longer and taller and 1 in (25.4 mm) wider than the previous generation. The US EPA now classifies the Sonata as a "large car". It is priced at US$18,500. A V6 Sonata is priced at US$23,500.
The Sonata received the Good Design Award in passenger car category from the JIDPO (Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization).
The Sonata was named "Best New Family Car (under $35,000)" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards.
