Spied - Hyundai Sonata gets another round of changes in Korea

24/05/2013 - 14:57 Hyundai Sonata, Spy pictures, Hyundai Sonata YF Nithyanandh K

The Hyundai Sonata recently received a minor facelift in international markets like Malaysia, Brazil and South Korea. After seeing new spyshots that have come in from Korea, it seems that Hyundai has further updates to show on the Korean superstar.

Hyundai Sonata facelift korea spy front grill — The cuts on the radiator slats are different.

Hyundai Sonata facelift Malaysia and Korea front — The image of the current South Korean model is added for your reference. Compare the grill design.

Here are a set of spyshots of the new Sonata we're referring to. The executive sedan sports a few minor changes over the current version sold in the Korean market.

None of the changes catch your eye on a casual glance. Sharpen your observation and you notice the front grill having a very subtle difference. In the updated car, the grill slats becomes thinner in the middle while those on the current car grow thicker!

Hyundai Sonata facelift korea spy tail light — The combination lamp's detailing of the updated car is different from the current Korean Sonata and the global Sonata.

Hyundai Sonata facelift Malaysia and Korea — The image of the Sonata that is on sale in Korea and Malaysia is attached for your reference. Compare the taillight elements.

Hyundai Sonata US and India rear — This the pre-facelift that is currently on sale in markets like the US and India. Again, note the difference in in the clear lens portion.

That is the only difference to the front fascia and it was equally difficult to spot a difference in the rear. This is where things get interesting. After a comprehensive study, we found that the taillight detailing has at least three variations across Sonatas sold in the world. The changes are so subtle that unless you keep comparing the images back and forth repeatedly, you won't catch it!

Hyundai Sonata facelift korea spy centre console — The climate control switchgear is revised. The shape of the human template is different. The buttons to its right are also different.

The first variation is the pre-facelift which is still being sold in countries like India and the US, the second variation is the facelift that is being sold in Malaysia and South Korea, the third variant is the facelift of the facelifted sedan shown in these spyshots.

Hyundai Sonata facelift korea spy instrument console — The MID has moved up and is now a color display.

Coming back to the car in the spyshot, there are more changes to talk about beside the subtle exterior differences. The sedan gets a electrically adjustable passenger seat and the controls for the automatic AC have been slightly revised (again a difference that evades the first glance). The MID has moved upwards and has a color display. This is monochromatic in the current car.

Hyundai Sonata facelift korea spy powered passenger seat — Passenger seat is now electrically adjustable.

So is this the global facelift that is waiting to be unveiled? The spyshot also reveals the car's VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate which is in Korean, just like the badge at the rear. The VIN plate even says that the mule is made in the month of March and weights 1,893 kg.

The improvements made to the interior and exterior of the car suggest that these could eventually emerge in global markets as a last update before an all new next gen Sonata bows next year.

[Source: Auto.hankyung.com]