2008 Hyundai Sonata
Facelift spy pics:
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611240_389.jpg
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611239_431.jpg
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611237_120.jpg
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611242_170.jpg
Source: Hyundaiexchange.com
Folding mirrors :-)
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611240_389.jpg
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611239_431.jpg
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611237_120.jpg
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/police159_27611242_170.jpg
Source: Hyundaiexchange.com
Folding mirrors :-)
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It's about time. I thought the 07s would have them considering the 07 Elantras do.
More:
Sources close to Hyundai has the facelift to include changes such as a six-speed, new dash, and others. I am sure more will pop up as we get close to the 08 Sonata, should appear in most markets by late 2007
I have a feeling that the diesel Accord is going to sell very well.
If they add NAV for the US then I'll likely buy. My 99 Galant has 124K and counting and while it's trouble-free, I am beginning to tire of it and would like something a little nicer and with a larger interior.
http://www.hyundaiexchange.com/forum/files/special11261747810tv_141.jpg
I also just read in my recent version of Truck Trend that next fall Hyundai will be introducing a Chevy Tahoe sized SUV...that will be interesting to see and it's supposed to have a V8 option to compete with the Nissan Armada too!
Times are changing and it's getting exciting for Hyundai
When was the last time any sane person did over 100 mph in the states? I have hit 90-95 on the highway in very fast moving traffic but that appears to be my limit. If you are driving over 100 mph...and it's not in the desert...you're a crazy person :P
As long as that limiter allows me to drive up to 100 mph, I don't have any problems with Hyundai's decision for 2008
Stay tuned...
I personally will probably never even drive my car faster than 80mph as I live in NYC and most drives are short. So I'm not exactly crazy, but I'm just not fond of the idea of 'big brother' placing a limiter on the car. Check out these links...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Sonata
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=80157
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=66898
My Lumina limited at 108 and the Mustang V6 at 112. In 1995 we did not have a speed limit here, wonderful time...and we had drinks to go. What a state!
From the Michelin website
V-Speed Rated Sizes:
Maximum Speed (mph) 100 106 112 118 124 130 136 143 149
Inflation Increase (psi) 0 1 2 3 4 5 5 5 5
Load Capacity (% of max) 100 100 100 100 100 100 97 94 91
94V tires on the Sonata....YeeeeHaaaawwww
Uhhh-yeah - my '03 2.7L V6 Sonata is limited to 80 mph by the driver - who happens to be a life-long charter member of the "rather-be-a-live-chicken-than-a-dead-duck-club"...
I'll only do top speed once, I hope. For as liberal as I've been accused of being :shades: I can still be a little conservative.
I wanted to do it yesterday but the wind was blowing about 30 MPH and we still have some ice on the roads. I will set up a spotter for the the other end of the "track"...speeding tickets and I don't get along well. I will say though I've met some very nice Montana State Troopers in the last 12 years. :P
Clicking on someone's name gives you a link to that person's CarSpace page in the upper left corner.
I expect they would be congenial considering all the coffee and donuts you've "bought" 'em over those 12 years...
It's odd here in Montana. If you are speeding and no other vehicles are around you they don't have to give you a ticket. That's why they are so nice. Now Wyoming is another story. No offense to those in Wyoming. They've had steak dinners on me there.
My Grand Caravan reached a 100 mph and I felt the car is telling me enough is enough. I have 2007 I4 but I will never try such a test for sure.
What is interesting, a ward article earlier in the year has indicated the 4 cylinder option would be available for all trims shortly in the US, possibly within the next few months as Hyundai USA rolls out the 2008 model. This move makes sense for at least two reasons: 1) More selection for the Sonata line 2) Azera GLS
Good call on the safety part backy, though Hyundai USA will soon be displaying (5/5/5/5 - 5 stars all around) gov't safety ratings on its Sonatas, as required starting in September of this year.
It makes sense that the refreshed Sonata would appear here in the 2009 MY. That fits Hyundai's typical pattern of a refresh after 3 years. But that also means that if I consider a car in this class when I buy my next car next year, it would probably be the Optima and not the Sonata.
Without a close up look at both cars side-by-side, the Optima & Sonata look very much a like except for different style head lights & tail lights. I don't think the Optima is scheduled for a face lift in MY 2008.
My Sonata is an '05 and I like the styling. Didn't like the '06 generation at first, but it grows on ya. Just got (our small business) an '07 Sonata for my brother 5 weeks ago. He's just ecstatic about the car.
I noticed also that the Optima V6 is the 2.7L, like the '05 Sonata, although a couple more HP in the '07 Optima & slightly better MPG ratings. (Heck, I do better than the '05 MPG rating on the highway and almost as well as EPA city rating with average trips of 4 or less miles.)
You probably know Hyundai offered a "special value" version of the GLS "only" in the '05 Sonata. Had just about everything as the LX except leather seats & power driver seat.
My brother said the '07 GLS probably had enough juice, but we felt the SE, basic, offered enough extras to justify the price differential vs the GLS with premium pkg.
Good Luck.
I'm betting the tail lights from the Elantra, the front end of the Genesis without the finicky chrome and more aggressively flared wheel arches.The overall stance will also be more raked.
I reckon that will be close to the mark...
Most likely the roofline will be unchanged--too expensive to change that. The changes to the front and rear could be minor tweaks, but they could be extensive too--consider the mid-generation makeover the Sonata got for MY 2002. I expect the dash will be reworked also--it is a sore point with some people, and isn't as nice as even the Elantra's dash IMO. Maybe some power tweaks to the engines--we'll have to see about that. Personally I think the Sonata has plenty of power, but some competitors have moved ahead of the Sonata so Hyundai may feel they have to "keep up with the Joneses."
Even though there is not a body refresh, I wouldn't rule out improved crash protection. A brace here, a gusset there, thicker or thinner existing metal, and crash protection can be greatly improved. Crash protection need not affect the outward appearance of the car whatsoever.
It sounds like you are talking minor alterations. I agree about the Elantra. The dash is more contemporary.
Have you seen any spy pics at all? They should be testing now. I've even trawled Korean sites to come up blank...
The brochures for '08's came in yesterday and there are a few changes being made to the trims.
GLS
The 2.4L 4 cylinder will now only be offered with a manual tranny while the 3.3L will be mated to the automatic.
V6 GLS will have chrome-tipped dual exhaust, solar control glass, leather wrapped shift knob and steering wheel
SE
215/55R17 Performace rated tires
8-way Power driver seat
Adjustable lumbar support for driver
Tilt/telescopic steering wheel
Rear Spoiler
Solar Control Glass
Chrome window belt moldings
Multi-function trip computer
Auto. lights
Fog lights
Steering wheel mounted audio controls
Metalgrain/woodgrain accents
Limited
Leather trimmed interior
Heated front seats
360-Watt Infinity AM/FM/XM/MP3/In-dash 6 CD changer, external amplifier and subwoofer
Automatic temp. control w/ outside temp. display
Homelink
Sliding armrest
Electochromic auto-dimming mirro
Chrome accented grille, door handles, body molding
Deletes rear spoiler and Performance rated tires.
Colors
Powder Pearl White
Dark Cherry Red
Deepwater Blue
Ebony Black
Natural Khaki
Golden Beige
Bright Silver
Silver Blue
Steel Gray
Interior Colors
Cloth - Black, Beige, Gray
Leather - Black, Beige, Gray
Packages
Popular Equipment Pkg. for GLS - Addspower driver seat w/ lumbar support, auto. lights, steering wheel audio controls, multi-function trip computer, woodgrain/metalgrain trim, chrome belt moldings
So that basically makes a GLS into an SE. If your gonna get a five-speed I could justify it, but not if your getting a V6 GLS. If you want that stuff and a V6, get the SE!
Premium Pkg. for SE - Adds sunroof, 240 watt in-dash 6 disc changer, electrodimming mirro w/ Homelink, Compass
I'm just glad they finally made a power seat standard on the SE!