Our first 2011 Hyundai Sonata at Checkered Flag Hyundai

It's an exciting day when a brand new model rolls off the truck at one of our Checkered Flag stores.  Today, it was Hyundai, and the newby is the highly anticipated 2011 Hyundai Sonata.  Employees, customers and even a few passerby-ers flocked to the impromptu unveiling.   As with most works of art, the photographs didn't do the Sonata justice.  This car is absolutely BEAUTIFUL.



Now, you may be thinking the Sonata has been around for a while, and you've seen it and know what its all about.. and you would be incorrect.  Ok, only partly incorrect.  Yes, the Sonata has been around since 1989, and I'm sure you know someone who drives one, but this new 2011 model is, well, it almost feels like an understatement to call it a complete redesign.  Maybe an uber redesign, or maximization design.. it is completely different, inside and out.  I had to get into one ASAP to check out the goodies and Drew, the sales agent giving the demo, had me at "heated rear seats",  I've never seen a car with heated rear seats.. so cool.


Still has the gift wrapping on the seats! 

Hyundai calls the new Sonata a four-door coupe, expounding that its "Safety, convenience, and performance all wrapped up in a decidedly un-sedan-like design."


Here's the full introduction from Hyundai-


a slightly more professional photo 

Sick of seeing the same old sedans year after year? Each one more boring than the next. The all-new Hyundai Sonata breaks up the monotony of the mid-size with bold-not-boring styling and a new fuel-efficient engine.

By questioning the cookie-cutter design that most sedans follow, the designers and engineers in our Southern California Design Center spent four years developing the sleek couple-like design of the all-new Hyundai Sonata. You can see their unique point of view along the elegant curves and arcs, sculpted chrome grill and the raked roofline that give it a fluid-like feel even when it's standing still.
 
And at the heart of the new Hyundai Sonata is the new fuel-efficient engine. When you hear fuel efficient, you automatically think you have to sacrifice performance. Not the case with the Hyundai Sonata's new 4 cylinder 2.4L GDI engine. It appeals to car lovers and nature lovers with a perfect combination of high power output and fuel efficiency.
 
You're probably wondering how the Sonata can achieve exemplary mileage and still offer an impressive 200 horsepower. One of the ways is by being the first vehicle in its class with standard Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) technology. Most engines inefficiently take in fuel, but with GDI fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber providing a more precise amount of fuel into each cylinder.
 
So, it looks like in a world of play-it-safe sedans, there is only one sedan that plays it smart. The Hyundai Sonata proves that you don't have to conform to compete.