The vehicle you see here is the next generation of the Hyundai Azera (the car is known as the Grandeur for markets outside America).
The car was caught during a series of tests perfected in northern Scandinavia, with the series version expected to be released sometime in the course of next year as a 2012 model.
The new Grandeur will be positioned between the Sonata and the Genesis sedan. As the vehicle targets a premium audience, it will be offered with two V6 powerplants. The first one will be a 3.3 liter one that will produce 234 hp, while the second one will be a Lambda unit with a capacity of 3.8 liters, developing 305 hp. We expect the engines to come mated to Hyundai’s new six speed automatic transmission as standard. This can also involve the driver in the shifting process, as it offers a manual mode.
The current development of the Azera is a heavy burden on the South Korean automotive producer’s shoulders. There are two reasons for this. First of all, the customers are moving towards the smaller midsize segment of the market (The Azera belongs to the large segment), driven by the financial crisis. Then, there’s the vast offer (in the Azera’s segment) coming from Hyundai’s competitors.
So, Hyundai should offer the assets that attract customers nowadays. We are talking mostly about engines that manage to deliver decent performance while offering a high level of efficiency. In addition to that, the overall value of the vehicle should also be an important aspect.
The car was caught during a series of tests perfected in northern Scandinavia, with the series version expected to be released sometime in the course of next year as a 2012 model.
The new Grandeur will be positioned between the Sonata and the Genesis sedan. As the vehicle targets a premium audience, it will be offered with two V6 powerplants. The first one will be a 3.3 liter one that will produce 234 hp, while the second one will be a Lambda unit with a capacity of 3.8 liters, developing 305 hp. We expect the engines to come mated to Hyundai’s new six speed automatic transmission as standard. This can also involve the driver in the shifting process, as it offers a manual mode.
The current development of the Azera is a heavy burden on the South Korean automotive producer’s shoulders. There are two reasons for this. First of all, the customers are moving towards the smaller midsize segment of the market (The Azera belongs to the large segment), driven by the financial crisis. Then, there’s the vast offer (in the Azera’s segment) coming from Hyundai’s competitors.
So, Hyundai should offer the assets that attract customers nowadays. We are talking mostly about engines that manage to deliver decent performance while offering a high level of efficiency. In addition to that, the overall value of the vehicle should also be an important aspect.