2015 Hyundai Sonata: Stiffer, smoother and more advanced [See pictures]

New Delhi: Hyundai has showcased its 2015 Sonata at the New York Auto Show featuring boatload of technology and luxury features not common in a midsize car. The company is planning an aggressive rollout program for its new Sonata and will start sales of this new model this fall.The 2015 Sonata features a more sophisticated look, as it adopts the automaker's new Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language first seen on the 2015 Genesis. The car is also 35 millimeters longer and 30 millimeters wider than its predecessor, which gives it a more imposing stance. The car rides on a 0.4-inch longer wheelbase. As a result of underbody aerodynamic enhancements, the new body achieves a 0.27 coefficient of drag, one of the best figures of any midsize sedan.To give a refreshing feeling, the front comes with a hexagonal grille inspired by the Genesis concept, new headlamps and a revised bumper. At the rear, there are new tail lamps and a redrawn trunk lid. A panorama roof remains optional, while the new back end is taller. The new Sonata features 41 percent greater torsional strength and 35 per cent greater bending strength than the outgoing model. The chasis of the new model is a MacPherson strut / multi-link rear suspension setup and comes with an electric power steering system with a quick 2.8 turns lock-to-lock.Hyundai is promising the new model to be quieter on road due to its stiffer body, optimized aerodynamics and added sound insulation. The company claims that the new model will be safer be safer than ever, too, thanks to the stiffer body as well as new driver knee airbags and a host of electronic safety systems, including blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, radar cruise control, and automatic high beams.The 2015 Sonata remains a front drive with four-cylinder engines only, 185 hp or 240 hp with a turbocharger. It's roomy in front and back. You can heat or chill the front sears with an option of pull up side sunshades on the backseats. Hyundai calls it class-above features. On the inside, Sonata has done away with its symmetrical dashboard arrangement in lieu of a more driver-focused design, replete with hexagons and trapezoids and lots of buttons. The dashboard sports a classics design and offers a 8.0-in color touch screen and buttons. Hyundai is one of many automakers who have announced Apple CarPlay, which lets you control approved iPhone 5/5S/5C apps using car dashboard controls, and replicate the phone display. Standard features include USB/iPod and auxiliary jacks, Sirius/XM radio and Bluetooth connectivity with voice activation.Other features include Options include a 400-watt Infinity sound system, a heated steering wheel, rear window blinds, and a “Smart Trunk” function that opens the trunk automatically after standing next to it for longer than three seconds with the key fob in your pocket. Hyundai did not mention fuel economy estimates, and nor did it mention anything about the hybrid powertrain that will be offered in the inevitable Sonata Hybrid model.The 2015 Hyundai Sonata will be launched in India, soon after it is launched internationally, expect it to land here by early 2015.