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2020 Hyundai Sonata 1.6 Turbo Coming To Seoul Motor Show

In the capital of South Korea, Hyundai prepares to take the veil off the Sonata 1.6 Turbo. The four-cylinder engine - marketed as Smart Stream and T-GDI - develops 180 horsepower, and as standard, the 1.6-liter comes with a six-speed manual transmission.
2020 Hyundai Sonata 20 photos
Photo: Hyundai
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An eight-speed automatic will be available too, offering “smooth and efficient throttle response.” Hyundai makes a case for “sporty and sensuous design enhancements that complement the vehicle’s performance capabilities,” but we’re not exactly convinced. The Sonata is a competitor for the Camry, and while pricing favors the South Korean interloper, the Toyota can be optioned with a 3.5-liter V6 and with TRD go-faster parts.

Underpinned by an all-new platform, the Sonata for the 2020 model year comes as standard with air ducts beneath the headlights. These elements channel air through the bumper and across the front fascia to reduce drag, and at high speeds, the wing-shaped spoiler at the rear promises stability.

An exclusive bumper, Civic-inspired taillamps, and twin-tipped exhaust mufflers complement the lower roofline. Even though it’s hard from a four-door coupe (think Mercedes-Benz CLS), Hyundai insists the profile echoes that of a four-door coupe. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and as far as the exterior is concerned, there’s no denying the Sonata is plusher and more technologized.

Also during the Seoul Motor Show, the Nexo will be available for test drives along with the Veloster N and i30 N Line at the Hyundai Motorstudio in Goyang. Last time we’ve talked about the Nexo, it came as a surprise to find out the fuel-cell crossover costs more than the Range Rover Sport in the United Kingdom, coming with all the bells and whistles as standard.

Last, but certainly not least, Seoul will be the host of “a Veloster N equipped with N Performance parts and bespoke customizations.” The components will be available for purchase in late 2019 according to Hyundai, and given the automaker’s push for the sporty hatchback in the United States, these parts won’t be exclusive to South Korea.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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