Hyundai Sonata 2001 test drive - 2004 sedan

To the music of Vivaldi

While visitors admired the premieres at the Paris Motor Show, the new Hyundai Sonata launched into production and began to sell in the Korean market. In Russia, Europe and America, the car will appear only in the spring.
Melodic beginning
It's hard to believe, but music sounds in Korea in Korea in the workshops of the Asani Automobile Plant. Even where powerful presses stamp body panels, a classic pours out of the speakers. Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Haydn. I will not say that this is directly related to the name of the car produced here (in Asana, in addition to Hyundai Sonata, the XG sedans are produced), but it works easier to the music. Even four hundred robots working on welding of the bodies, give up to me, work more rhythmic to the music. By the way, welding processes are automated here by 99.8%.
However, the factory in Asana is not the only one where they will produce a new Hyundai Sonata. In the spring of 2005, Hyunde will launch a new plant in Montgomery (Alabama, USA) and start with Hyundai Sonata.
By the end of the year, 40 thousand cars for the domestic market will be made. The next year, together with the American plant, it is planned to make 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 be dependent on the configuration from 16 to 25 thousand dollars.
Performing art
They left the workshop on the brand new Hyundai Sonata in the most expensive configuration with a new 2.4-liter engine, 17-inch cast wheels and a leather salon. Outwardly, the new generation Hyundai Sonata has nothing to do with the predecessor. The doubles disappeared, and la
E-class headlights, body lines have become clearer and more expressive. This is how designers from the California Hyunde Center made it just such a car should become popular in America and Europe. Someone guesses in it the features of the resemblance to the Saab, someone sees the proportions of the Volkswagen passage. But no matter who from his colleagues he asked, no one recognizes him from Southeast Asia. However, it was conceived: after all, it will be sold mainly outside Korea.
Compared to the predecessor, the fifth Hyundai Sonata has become higher, longer, wider (see table) and, oddly enough, easier. The engine was noticeably facilitated. Its block is made of aluminum, a inlet collector and a lid of the cylinder head are made of plastic.
It is worth saying about the engine: this is a product of the joint efforts of Hyunde, Daimler-Craisler and Mitsubishi Motors, who in 2002 launched a global engine development program. The program applies to in -line four -cylinder engines with a volume of 1.8; 2.0 and 2.4 liters. Hyunde is responsible for the design, technology and production of the most important engine elements, including the cylinder block, parts of the connecting rod piston group. They are made in asana and then sent to partners for further assembly. The engines of the new Hyundai Sonata, of course, are gathering in place entirely. They were the first in the framework of a joint program, which provides for the total production of 1.5 million engines per year. They are distinguished by reduced vibration, efficiency, reduction of harmful emissions, as well as improved dynamic characteristics. Next year, Chrysler and Mitsubishi cars will begin to equip global motors.
On the idle, the new engine practically does not give out its presence: there is silence in the cabin. The fact that the motor is working is evidenced only by the tachometer arrow, frozen without reaching the mark of 1000 rpm.
I look around: the interior is made with taste, the details are carefully fitted. The leather steering wheel is covered with a protective braid. Electric drives allow you to fit the seat under the driver of any complexion. The steering wheel does not have an adjustment in the longitudinal plane only up and down. But the range of set positions is very wide. The steering wheel can be installed literally under the windshield and lowered almost under the torpedo.
But here I transfer the machine gun selector to position D, and Hyundai Sonata smoothly starts. On a short verification highway near the factory buildings you will not accelerate especially. It would be interesting to feel the innovative system of active control over the geometry of the suspension, for the first time in the world of Hyunde proposed. The essence of her actions boils down to the fact that in a bend, using two solenoids, the angle of convergence of the rear wheels changes, increasing the threshold of the breakdown into the skid.
Nevertheless, some idea of \u200b\u200bthe character of the car has developed. I liked the work of the steering mechanism. At first it seemed that the steering wheel is too light during maneuvers. I was afraid that he would not get rid of this and with a faster ride. But in vain: as the speed increases, it was noticeably heavy, and it was comfortable for me to control the movement of this pretty sedan.
I add that the new Hyundai Sonata is equipped with a four -channel ABS, as well as the EPS electronic stabilization system with traction control. By order, a cruise control, a fully automatic climatic installation, a system for filtering the air supplied to the salon, a MP3 player with a six-disc CD for six discs can be installed. However, I liked a roomy trunk and a hatch in the back of the rear seat for long cargo, such as, for example, skis.
So, the new Hyundai Sonata is written and executed. Whether it will become a classic of the genre, time will tell. In any case, there is reason for this: after all, it is even collected to music.

Vladimir Solovyov
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"