Hyundai Debuts Seventh-Generation Sonata Sedan

Hyundai Motor Co.'s redesigned 2015 Sonata midsize sedan is longer, wider and stronger than the model it replaces.

To make way for an expected jump in demand, Hyundai will relocate production of the Eco version of the car from its plant in Montgomery, Ala., to South Korea. The company says its Alabama factory, which has a planned annual capacity to make 300,000 Sonata and larger Elantra sedans, managed to build 398,000 vehicles last year.

The new Sonata's lineup of engines starts with an updated version of the base 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder direct-injection unit. An electric servo actuator replaces the former engine's hydraulic valve timing system. The revised powerplant makes 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque and has a U.S. government highway fuel economy rating of 25 mpg.

An optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger makes 245 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines deliver power to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Sonata Eco model uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that makes 177 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a segment-first 7-speed twin-clutch automatic. The model Eco has a U.S. highway fuel economy rating of 38 mpg.

Hyundai says the new Sonata's exterior design and full underbody shielding give the car a drag coefficient of 0.27, matching the class-leading Ford Fusion sedan.

Inside, the instrument panel features a horizontal placement of the primary display screen and controls that is intended to improve clarity and visibility.