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Hyundai's Fluidic Sonata Inspired By Orchids

BW Online Bureau Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[The i45 or the new Sonata premium sedan was the number 1 sedan, in terms of sales, in the USA. It beat the Toyota Corolla last year for that position. However, it was a much talked about car for over a year among Indian auto enthusiasts. The A4 segment or the premium segment was something that Hyundai has lost out on. This car market segment is dominated by the Volkswagen Group's Skoda Superb and VW Passat. The Honda Accord was also popular in this segment before the  segment turned towards the diesel engine over the last one year and there is also no clear leader in this segment. With the new Sonata Hyundai hopes to create a niche for itself. "This is a more than premium car with great technology," says H W Park, MD of Hyundai India Limited. He says that he hoped to bring more great technology in their entire range of affordable cars starting from the Eon hatch to the Verna sedan. The Concept compact MPV Hexa Space was also showcased. It carries Hyundai's new strategy on design called the Fluidic concepts from their German studio. The new Sonata has taken cues from the orchid, with its flowing shape and sleek design. Hyundai kicked off the Auto Expo in 2012 as the second largest car maker, behind Maruti, in India with over 2,50,000 cars sold locally and 2,75,000 cars exported. This year its Eon hatch sold 7,000 cars on an averge every month since its launch in August. The company has lowered its guidance to 2,25,000 cars to be sold locally this year as a result of the slowing Indian economy.