Not yet a symphony but much more than a solo

From what we can remember here at LotPro.com, the first year the Hyundai Sonata graced our shores was back in 1988. We were around to test drive an example and it was an excruciating experience. The steering was vague, the handling was forgettable and its quality control was suspect (a cloth rear seat release strap ripped of in our hands).

Since that time, the Korean automaker has gotten its act together in a big way. Four generations plus two updates later, the Sonata is now a legitimate player in the mid-size segment with the biggest difference coming from the current model that was introduced in 2006.

2011 Sonata

Even though the Sonata was updated in 2009, the 2010 model will have only a brief run before the company begins production of the 2011 version that will have its world debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The new Sonata will also mark a “first” for Hyundai in the U.S. market when the company brings out a gas-electric hybrid version of the vehicle in late 2010, using cutting-edge lithium polymer batteries to augment its electric motor and gasoline engine.

And speaking of propulsion, Wards Auto World reports that the vehicle will only be available in the U.S. with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine (mated to a six-speed automatic transmission), while other sources (Hyundai being tight-lipped at the moment) report that this particular four cylinder will be used for entry-level models, while a 3.5-liter V6 will power a premium version.

Style

While earlier Sonatas could easily get overlooked in mall parking lots, the newest Hyundai, based on the company’s “fluidic sculpture” styling language and designed at its Irvine, California studio, is certain to garner more than a few second looks.

Codenamed “YF,” the new Sonata takes a cue from both the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Volkswagen CC as the Hyundai features four doors with a distinctive coupe-inspired roofline. In front, a large Genesis-inspired grille is flanked by wrap-around headlamp bezels set between two ridges that start below the grill and flow around the headlamps and curve up to the vehicle’s beltline. A second ridge begins behind the front wheel openings, two thirds of the way up the fender, and continues an upward curve along the car’s flanks to the top of the taillamps and around the trunk.

Although vehicle options are a bit sketchy at this point, expect to see Hyundai’s stability and traction control system (which they call VDC or Vehicle Dynamic Control) as standard equipment on all U.S. models with a panoramic glass sunroof, proximity-sensing keyless entry and push-button ignition available as options.

Cadillac and Hyundai biggest winners

Here at LotPro.com, we see where AutoPacific today released its 13th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) based on the results of a national survey of over 25,000 new vehicle owners and lessees.

Hyundai Genesis

Noting that the current survey was conducted “in the most challenging auto sales market in years,” the company also announced that “even with the turmoil surrounding General Motors,” Cadillac, for the second year in a row, ranked highest with new car owners and took the Highest Satisfaction Brand award.

Another bright spot in the survey was Hyundai, which climbed 11 places in the overall standings, more than any other manufacturer in the survey, earning itself the Rising Star award for 2009. Not only did the company score more points in 40 of 48 rating categories over last year’s results, two of the Korean manufacturer’s models garnered VSA awards this year in their respective categories – the Genesis for Aspirational Luxury Car and the Sonata in the Premium Mid-size car category.

“These are difficult times, with news of automaker bankruptcies, companies restructuring and dealer closures a daily occurrence,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “Clearly, the dynamics surrounding the Vehicle Satisfaction Award in 2009 are far different from anything we’ve seen in many years. Winners needed to overachieve to earn their awards.”

Honda Fit Sport

Award Winners

The survey focused on buyers of new vehicles that either purchased or leased them during the fourth quarter of 2008 – just as the economic downturn was pummeling the auto industry.

Although the complete list of winners is listed below, it should also be noted that the vehicle that registered the highest overall satisfaction for the reporting period was the Lexus LS – scoring 99 points above the industry average. The highest scoring truck, the Cadillac Escalade, also contributed mightily to that brand’s overall win.

2010 Ford Fusion

Multiple award winners included Toyota with 6 (including 2 for Lexus and 1 for Scion), Ford with 4, (including 1 for the Lincoln brand), Hyundai/Kia with 3 (2 for Hyundai, 1 for Kia) , Chrysler with 2 (1 for the Dodge brand and 1 for its Jeep division) and General Motors with 2 (1 for Cadillac and 1 for its Chevrolet brand).

Other manufacturers on the list are Honda, Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Porsche and VW.

2009 Dodge Ram

Highest Satisfaction as a Brand: Cadillac

2009 Rising Star: Hyundai

Passenger Car Categories and Winners:

Premium Luxury Car               Lexus LS
Aspirational Luxury Car          Hyundai Genesis
Luxury Large Car                     Lincoln Town Car
Luxury Mid-Size Car                Lexus ES
Premium Mid-Size Car             Hyundai Sonata
Mid-Size Car                              Ford Fusion
Image Compact Car                  Toyota Prius
Compact Car                               Mitsubishi Lancer
Economy Car                              Honda Fit
Sports Car                                   Porsche 911
Sporty Car                                   Scion tC

Light Truck Categories and Winners:

Large Pickup                                     Dodge Ram 1500
Compact Pickup                                Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Luxury Sport Utility                        Cadillac Escalade
Large Sport Utility                           Chevrolet Tahoe
Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility    Ford Explorer
Mid-Size Sport Utility                      Jeep Liberty
Luxury Crossover SUV                    Land Rover LR2
Large Crossover SUV                       Mazda CX-9
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV Toyota Venza
Mid-Size Crossover SUV                  Volkswagen Tiguan
Compact Crossover SUV                  Kia Sportage
Minivan                                               Toyota Sienna

Why a show about auto interiors? Part Deux.

In a previous article, I mentioned the advantages to living and working in the Detroit Metro area if you happen to be writing for LotPro.com about automobiles: location, location, location. Because in addition to the usual auto shows that you find in any major city, Detroit is home to the greatest concentration of automotive R&D facilities and engineering talent found in the United States. Period. End of discussion.

This also means that metro Detroit also hosts a number of other automotive-related events that can only be found in this particular part of the country – most notably the Automotive News World Congress and the SAE World Congress. Although not nearly as large as either one of those, the Ward’s Auto Interiors Show provides a showcase for this important facet of automotive design and engineering

4 Specialty Categories

Although these categories don’t deal with overall engineering and design execution, they do address 4 very important facets of the driver/automobile interface:

Best Electronic Innovation – Infiniti Around View Monitor - With many new vehicles sporting rear-mounted cameras, Infiniti took that concept one step further. Found on the Infiniti EX35, the Around View Monitor (AVM) utilizes no less than 4 ultrawide-angle, high-resolution cameras to alert the driver of potential problems on every side of the vehicle – virtually eliminating blind spots while, for instance, parking. In addition, sensors provide beeping alerts to indicate proximity as well as superimposing lines on the video image to indicate the best path.

Best (Interior) Redesign – 2009 Hyundai Sonata –  While it certainly wasn’t class-leading at its debut in 2005, by the time 2008 rolled around, the aging dash design of the Sonata was closer in DNA to a Dodge Neon than a Honda Accord – one of its chief competitors. All that has changed with the 2009 Sonata. Although a mild refresh to the exterior front and rear fascias are a welcome change, it’s the interior and, specifically, the dashboard where greatest improvements have been made. Although still adorned with the faux wood usually found in Corollas (faint praise, at best), the rest of the dash is light years of its predecessor.

Best Brand Expression – Volvo C30 – The interior of the C30 exudes Swedish design elegance and simplicity. Minimalist seatbacks, brushed metal accents and contrasting black and gray upholstery give the Volvo an understated, sophisticated look found on very few offerings from the United States or the Far East.

Clever Utility – Dodge Journey -  What domestic vehicles may lack in design elegance, they more than make for in overall utility and the new Dodge Journey is no exception. The Journey features more hidden storage compartments than Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon. For example: the front passenger seat features “Flip ‘n Stow”, a storage compartment that can be accessed by flipping (hence the word ‘flip”) the bottom seat cushion forward to reveal the hidden bin. There are also concealed compartments under the floor in the rear cargo area as well as ahead of the second-row seats (with liners that enable them to be used as ice chests).

Second-row seats feature integrated child booster seats and, when the seatbacks are flipped forward (there’s that word, again), present a small bin as well as 2 cupholders. The front glove box features a “Chill Zone” to keep your beverages cold, while the cargo bay wall features a built-in emergency flashlight. All this, and more, is available in this Swiss Army Knife disguised as a crossover vehicle.

2009 Dodge Journey

Dodge has been conspicuously absent from the crossover segment (the Pacifica was a Chrysler-only vehicle). The Journey, based on the Avenger/Sebring platform with a stretched wheelbase, is only 2 inches longer than the Avenger, but seats up to 7 passengers. With a starting price of just under $20,000, standard safety features include, front, side and curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, ESP stability control and Electronic Roll Mitigation.

In addition to the usual cupholder/door storage bins, the Journey also features floor storage and front under-seat bins. A double glove box features an upper box for “chillin” (it’s refrigerated) and a lower box that contains an iPod connection.

2009 Hyundai Sonata

Introduced at the Chicago Auto Show back in February, the updated Sonata features new front and rear fascias incorporating new headlights, taillights and fog lights have changed the look in a very subtle way. On the inside, small changes have been made to the instrument panel and console, while USB and iPod ports are now standard and a navigation system has been added as an option.

The biggest changes have been to the engine and suspension with horsepower, torque and fuel economy improvements in both the 2.4 liter 4 cylinder and 3.3 liter 6 cylinder engines. Suspension dynamics have been re-tuned for enhanced handling in the GLS and Limited models, while the SE gets even firmer sport tuning.