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Auto For An Hour: Hyundai Sonata 2.4. To The Music Of Vivaldi

2024

Video: Auto For An Hour: Hyundai Sonata 2.4. To The Music Of Vivaldi

Video: Auto For An Hour: Hyundai Sonata 2.4. To The Music Of Vivaldi
Video: We've bought the luxurious Hyundai Sonata for... 2024, March
Auto For An Hour: Hyundai Sonata 2.4. To The Music Of Vivaldi
Auto For An Hour: Hyundai Sonata 2.4. To The Music Of Vivaldi
Anonim

MELODY BEGINNING

It's hard to believe, but in the workshops of the Asan Automobile Plant - the newest of the Hyundai built in Korea - music everywhere. Even where powerful presses stamp body panels, a classic pours from the speakers. Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Haydn. I will not argue that this is directly related to the name of the car produced here (in Asan, in addition to Hyundai Sonata, XG sedans are produced), but it works easier with music. Even four hundred robots that work on welding bodies seem to me to work more rhythmically to music. By the way, welding processes are 99.8% automated here.

However, the Asan plant is not the only one where the new Hyundai Sonata will be produced. In the spring of 2005, Hyundai will launch a new plant in Montgomery (Alabama, USA) and start with Hyundai Sonata.

Until the end of the year, 40 thousand cars will be made for the domestic market. Next year, together with the American plant, it is planned to produce 300 thousand, of which 100 thousand will remain in Korea, and the rest will find buyers around the world. The price of the new Hyundai Sonata in the Korean market will range from 16 to 25 thousand dollars, depending on the configuration.

EXECUTIVE ART

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We drove out of the workshop on the brand new Hyundai Sonata in the most expensive configuration with a new 2.4-liter engine, 17-inch alloy wheels and a leather interior. Externally, the new generation Hyundai Sonata has nothing to do with its predecessor. Dual “a la E-class” headlights disappeared, body lines became more clear and expressive. So it was made by designers from the Hyundai Center in California. Such a car should become popular in America and Europe. Someone guesses in it features of similarity with SAAB, someone sees the proportions of the Volkswagen Passat. But no matter which of the colleagues he asked, no one recognized him as a native of Southeast Asia. However, it was conceived: after all, it will be sold mainly outside of Korea.

Compared to its predecessor, the fifth Hyundai Sonata has become taller, longer, wider (see table) and, oddly enough, lighter. Visibly lightened the engine. Its block is made of aluminum, the intake manifold and cylinder head cover are made of plastic.

It is worth mentioning especially about the engine: this is a product of the joint efforts of Hyundai, Daimler-Chrysler and Mitsubishi Motors, which launched the Global Engine Development Program in 2002. The program concerns inline four-cylinder engines of 1.8; 2.0 and 2.4 liters. Hyundai is responsible for the design, technology and production of the most important engine components, including the cylinder block, parts of the connecting rod and piston group. They are made in Asan and then sent to partners for further assembly. The engines of the new Hyundai Sonata, of course, are assembled entirely on site. They became the first in the framework of a joint program providing for the total production of 1.5 million engines per year. They are distinguished by reduced vibration, economy, reduction of harmful emissions, as well as improved dynamic characteristics. Next year, Chrysler and Mitsubishi cars will be equipped with “global” motors.

At idle, the new engine practically does not give out its presence: there is silence in the cabin. The fact that the engine is running is indicated only by the tachometer needle, which has stopped before reaching 1000 rpm.

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I look around: the interior is tastefully designed, the details are carefully adjusted. The leather steering wheel is covered with a protective braid. Electric drives allow you to adjust the seat to fit any driver. The steering wheel has no adjustment in the longitudinal plane - only up and down. But the range of preset positions is very wide. The steering wheel can be installed literally under the windshield and lowered almost under the "dash".

But here I translate the selector of the “automatic” to the “D” position, and the “Hyundai Sonata” starts moving smoothly. On a short test track near the factory buildings, you will not especially accelerate. It would be interesting to feel the effect of the innovative system of “active control of the geometry of the suspension”, first proposed in the world by Hyundai. The essence of its actions is that in the rotation with the help of two solenoids the angle of convergence of the rear wheels is changed, increasing the threshold for stalling into a skid.

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Nevertheless, some idea of the nature of the car has developed. I liked the work of the steering mechanism. At first it seemed that the steering wheel was too light for maneuvers. I was afraid that he would not get rid of this even with a faster ride. But in vain: as speed increases, it is noticeably “heavy”, and I was comfortable controlling the movement of this pretty sedan.

I will add that the new Hyundai Sonata is equipped with four-channel ABS, as well as an EPS electronic stabilization system with traction control. On request, cruise control, a fully automatic climate control, a filter system for the air supplied to the passenger compartment, an MP3 player with a six-disc CD changer can be installed. However, I liked the roomy trunk and the hatch in the back of the rear seat for long loads, such as, for example, skis.

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