Up front, MacPherson struts make sure that the bumps are smoothed out and that the front stays put when attacking winding roads with enthusiasm. The rear five-link setup does a good job of controlling suspension action (see above comments) and makes sure the back end follows the front.
Transmission choices for Canada will consist of a manual six-speed on the entry-level GL, while a six-speed automatic is optional. The six-speed automatic is standard on the GLS and Limited models, and has Shiftronic manual-mode capability, but Canada will not get paddle shifters or 18-inch wheels until later in the year when a turbo version of the new 2.4-litre direct-injected gas engine comes online and a sport package is introduced.
Direct injection isn’t really new and Hyundai even uses an old concept in a new manner to get direct injection. The injector nozzle for the system is not in the combustion chamber as with other systems but sits in the cylinder head like a port injection system. The big difference is that in this system, the nozzle is pointed directly into the combustion chamber so that when the intake valve opens, fuel goes directly into the combustion chamber.
The beauty of this system is that it can act like a port system if necessary and operates at a much lower pressure (1,500 psi or 105 bar vs. 25,000 psi or 1,830 bar) than other systems, thus increasing reliability.
In addition to the Gas Direct Injection (Hyundai’s name for the system), the engine uses four valves per cylinder and has variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust cams. This brings power output up to 198 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
Peak torque is fairly high up the rpm band at over 4,000 rpm. When driving and using heavy acceleration to get up freeway ramps, the torque band is quite wide with plenty of power from about 1,500 rpm up. No more V6, by the way.
Sonata has now entered the 21st century and with this new car, Hyundai Canada feels confident in predicting more than a 50% increase in Sonata sales.
photo:Charles Renny, Hyundai
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| Inside, Fluid Sculpture carries over into the all-new interior. (photo: Hyundai) |
Transmission choices for Canada will consist of a manual six-speed on the entry-level GL, while a six-speed automatic is optional. The six-speed automatic is standard on the GLS and Limited models, and has Shiftronic manual-mode capability, but Canada will not get paddle shifters or 18-inch wheels until later in the year when a turbo version of the new 2.4-litre direct-injected gas engine comes online and a sport package is introduced.
Direct injection isn’t really new and Hyundai even uses an old concept in a new manner to get direct injection. The injector nozzle for the system is not in the combustion chamber as with other systems but sits in the cylinder head like a port injection system. The big difference is that in this system, the nozzle is pointed directly into the combustion chamber so that when the intake valve opens, fuel goes directly into the combustion chamber.
The beauty of this system is that it can act like a port system if necessary and operates at a much lower pressure (1,500 psi or 105 bar vs. 25,000 psi or 1,830 bar) than other systems, thus increasing reliability.
In addition to the Gas Direct Injection (Hyundai’s name for the system), the engine uses four valves per cylinder and has variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust cams. This brings power output up to 198 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
Peak torque is fairly high up the rpm band at over 4,000 rpm. When driving and using heavy acceleration to get up freeway ramps, the torque band is quite wide with plenty of power from about 1,500 rpm up. No more V6, by the way.
Sonata has now entered the 21st century and with this new car, Hyundai Canada feels confident in predicting more than a 50% increase in Sonata sales.
 |
| The engine uses four valves per cylinder and has variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust cams. (photo: Hyundai) |
photo:Charles Renny, Hyundai
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