The saucy new Hyundai Sonata was unveiled in South Korea this week, and it's poised to give the carmaker an upgrade in the ultracompetitive midsize-sedan segment when it hits the U.S. market in 2010.

It's a dramatic departure from the current model, which is a solid if staid four-door. The Sonata uses Hyundai's new design language, called “fluid sculpture,” and the side panels are marked by prominent lines that swoop back into the taillights. The grille, headlights and front end all have a bolder look as well.

The standard engine will be Hyundai's 2.4-liter Theta II GDI powerplant. The Sonata will be produced for the U.S. market in Alabama, and the car likely will be shown at the Detroit auto show.

The new model could position Hyundai to better compete against midsize kingpins Toyota and Honda. It looks to give the South Korean company a more premium product than the current car and follows the well-received Genesis sedan. The luxury Equus sedan also arrives in the States in 2010 (“On the Rise,” AW, Sept. 7, 2009).
hyundai sonata
A picture of hyundai sonata

The next Sonata is shown from the back.

The Sonata will start at the equivalent of $17,600 and top out at $21,450 in South Korea. The car first launched there in 1985. The sixth-generation Sonata is the culmination of four years and $372 million in development.

Additional U.S. specs have not been confirmed, but the Korean version gets a panoramic three-piece sunroof, parking guidance and navigation system.

The company plans to sell 60,000 copies of the car this year in South Korea and wants to reach 450,000 annually from 2011 on, when it reaches all markets.