The all new 2011 Hyundai Sonata has added yet another accolade to its resume by winning Gulf Autos’ 2010 Car of the Year Award, which came in recognition to its daring, emotionally-driven design, state-of-art technology and superior built quality. Gulf Autos’ Award honours the new sedan as part of recognizing pioneering automotive achievements and innovative efforts spearheaded by leading car manufactures in the Middle East region.   

“With all we have seen and read about the 2011 Sonata, we felt that it was necessary to put this vehicle to a unique test before we could unanimously agree on Gulf Auto’s maiden 2010 Car of the Year Award winner,” said a senior official at Gulf Autos. “Hyundai has shown high flexibility in these testing times by providing a vehicle matching the distinctive large segment of consumers. Sonata has reached high levels of maturity and competence within the category of sedans and we wouldn’t be surprised if it makes it to the top best-selling cars in the region,” he added.

Based on the visionary concept of combining nature’s inherent beauty, the Sonata is an innovation in its own right, with functionality and sophistication at their best. The all-new Sonata’s unique design language evokes a sense of desire and strong appeal among virtually all generations of drivers.

“We are very pleased to receive this honor. The Sonata’s new ‘look and feel’ is the result of 4 years of design development whose inspiration comes from nature. This unique design language now serves as the core of Hyundai’s design identity, injecting a new sophistication and emotional quality into the Sonata.” said a senior Hyundai official upon receiving the Gulf Autos Car of the Year Award in Dubai. “All-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata comes in conjunction with great success and positive response by medium-sized car users in the region. It has proved to be the best option for customers wishing to obtain a high value for what they pay, as well as physical appearance, performance and spacious interior design,” he added.

The exterior of the all-new Sonata is long, light and low. The high beltline allows for a long, sleek roofline accented by the third window. A mono-form side profile includes flowing lines highlighted by a Hyundai signature chrome accent that spans the length of the car. Multi-spoke wheels complete the assertive stance.

The sophisticated look continues inside where Hyundai has created an upscale ambiance thanks to a flow-through center console and instrument panel. These flowing surfaces complement the exterior design and wrap around the driver and passengers.

The Sonata rides on a wheelbase which is 65mm longer than the previous edition. It is also longer and wider than its predecessor by 20mm and 5mm respectively, greatly improving the interior cabin space. Also, the overall height of 1,470mm does not affect the headroom.

In Middle East, the Sonata will be equipped with two powerful and fuel efficient Theta II petrol engines displacing 2.4 and 2.0 litres. The lighter weight Theta II 2.0 litre engine puts out more power and torque and delivers 165ps and 20.2kg.m of torque, while the Theta-II 2.4 is rated at 178ps and delivers 23.3kg.m of torque.

Hyundai’s commitment to making the Sonata extremely fuel efficient continues with a six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control or a standard six-speed manual transaxle. For the customer, more gears are definitely better. The addition of a sixth gear enables closer spacing between gear ratios providing a better balance of performance and fuel economy while the wide overall gear ratio helps deliver strong acceleration.

Hyundai as a brand has made significant strides on the back of sophisticated product design, leading-edge quality, safety technology and exceptional value. The last few years are of special significance for Hyundai – not only because Hyundai has become one of the top automotive brands in the world but also because it has beaten some renowned brands in quality. Hyundai’s vehicles are winning accolades and awards from around the industry because they are safe, reliable, innovative and comfortable. This gives a refined driving experience for the owners and their families. One has to test drive and discover what millions of satisfied Hyundai owners already know – Hyundai stands for uncompromising quality.

OTE Group is the exclusive dealer of Hyundai’s range of vehicles in Oman. With a nationwide network of showrooms and service centers, OTE Group ensures that Hyundai customers are never far from getting a wide range of high quality after-sales service. It is this strong partnership that continues to lead more customers to join the Hyundai family.