Hyundai is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Sonata, which made its debut in 1985 in Korea. Since 1985, Hyundai has sold more than 7.3 million Sonata’s worldwide.
Hyundai is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Sonata, which made its debut in 1985 in Korea. Since 1985, Hyundai has sold more than 7.3 million Sonata’s worldwide.
“The Sonata has been a huge factor in Hyundai’s growth not only in the U.S., but around the world,” said Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “During its 30-year history, we have been able to craft and evolve Sonata to the ever-changing needs of our customers. And, with the Sonata family growing this summer to include the all-new Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, we’re expanding an already diverse lineup with something for everyone.”
The Sonata was introduced to the U.S. in 1988 and since then Hyundai has sold more than 2.3 million units in the U.S.
Related: 2015 Hyundai Sonata [REVIEW]
The first-generation Sonata was a boxy rear-wheel-drive sedan that was one of Hyundai’s first models designed exclusively by Hyundai’s in-house design teams. Three years later the 2nd-generation Sonata debuted with front-wheel-drive and a slightly less boxy exterior. The third-generation Sonata debuted in 1993 and although there were three generations introduced between 1993 and 2004, it wasn’t until the sixth-generation Sonata that the Sonata really make people take notice of the midsize sedan.
The sixth-generation Sonata debuted in 2009 with Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language that made it one of the boldest and most stylish models in the midsize sedan segment. The seventh-generation Sonata debuted last year with an evolution of Hyundai’s design language that gave it a more refined look than the sixth-generation model.
Source: Hyundai
