Hyundai has announced pricing for the refreshed 2009 Sonata, which features an all-new interior, enhanced suspensions and revised powertrains delivering more horsepower and improved fuel economy. The 2009 Sonata is just now reaching Hyundai dealerships.
“You’d expect these changes and new content would lead to new price points for the Sonata,” said John Krafcik, vice president of Hyundai Motor America. “But that’s not Hyundai’s business model. With a starting price of $18,795, including delivery, the 2009 Sonata is very well-equipped to compete with the best midsize sedans on quality, craftsmanship, capability and value.” That price is for the base-model GLS with the manual transmission and four-cylinder engine. The top-of-the-line Sonata, the Limited V-6 with an automatic transmission, starts at $26,345.
The new, second-generation 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivers more horsepower and quicker acceleration than last year; horsepower is now 175, and fuel economy is EPA-rated at 22 miles per gallon city, 32 mpg highway. The Sonata’s 3.3-liter V-6 engine now pumps out 249 horsepower, 15 more than last year. A variable intake system is added for 2009, which further broadens its power curve, improving off-the-line acceleration and passing performance. New mileage figures for V-6-powered Sonatas are 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway. All V-6-powered Sonatas use the five-speed automatic transmission, which features an overdrive lock-up torque converter for improved highway fuel economy. The automatic transmission has a new reducing valve and solenoid valve for smoother shift quality while the manual transmission has been refined for more precise shifts.
Inside, Hyundai designers have revamped the cockpit, including a new center console and instrument panel, which borrows design cues and materials from the premium Hyundai Veracruz. Outside, there are new bumpers, lamps, wheels and grille, and there are new chrome bodyside and bumper moldings to match the chrome grille and chrome-accented exterior door handles on Limited models.
Not all dealers opt for GT-R
Just 60 percent of Nissan’s dealers have opted to sell its expensive new GT-R supercar, but Nissan says that’s actually more than it expected, according to Automotive News. Al Castignetti, Nissan Division general manager, says 692 of Nissan’s approximately 1,100 dealers have agreed to sell the GT-R, which goes on sale in June. The agreement requires the dealer to acquire various service tools and specially train at least one technician. The company estimates the agreement could cost dealers $20,000 or more. Nissan had expected about 600 of its retailers to take on the car, Castignetti said.
Speaking to dealers at the brand’s make meeting last week, he said that information was mailed last week to instruct them on how to begin taking pre-orders for the GT-R. The imported sports car will carry a sticker price of about $70,000 — twice that of Nissan’s current sports car, the 350Z.
Nissan is forecasting only about 1,500 annual U.S. sales of the GT-R. Globally, Nissan has production to sell only 12,000 a year. But the GT-R is envisioned as a halo product to enhance the brand’s sporty image. The car carries a 480-horsepower, twin-turbo, six-cylinder engine, and marketers hope to position the Japanese-designed model against the
area, says that many U.S. dealers have not even seen the GT-R. At a dealer meeting in Las Vegas in May, Castignetti says, Nissan plans to present its upcoming products, including the GT-R and a new-generation Maxima.
Economist predicts slow sales year
Carmakers will sell about 15.7 million vehicles in the U.S. this year, the fewest since 1998, an auto industry economist said, according to Bloomberg News.
, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association, said in a speech in San Francisco at the group’s convention that, “Energy costs of gasoline, home heating and cooling will continue to drain money from consumer budgets and slow down consumer spending.”
Americans bought 16.1 million cars and light trucks last year, the least since 1998. Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has said U.S. sales might be as low as 15.5 million vehicles this year. Sales in the U.S. peaked in 2000 at 17.4 million vehicles.
“Short-term interest rates are falling, but credit problems and unemployment will persist in 2008,” Taylor said. “So the economy is a mixed picture. Dropping gasoline prices would assist light vehicle sales but are not assured in a volatile energy market.”
Auto dealers are among retailers suffering from a slump in housing and employment. Cars and light trucks sold last month at a 15.2 million annual pace, down 6.7 percent from December, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Cars.com picks favorites
Dozens of cars have been driven, votes have been tallied and the winners of the 2008 Cars.com Lifestyle Awards have been determined: Family Car of the Year is the 2008 Mazda CX-9; Work Car of the Year is the 2008
Developed to recognize the vehicles that are best suited for the lifestyle needs of today’s car buyers, the awards highlight the top choices from Cars.com’s Lifestyle Buying Guide. The guide features picks from Cars.com’s editors based on their experiences in test drives and their evaluation of criteria most important to shoppers in each lifestyle category.
New TSX en route
Acura plans to unveil a new version of its TSX sports sedan next month at the
International Auto Show, says The Associated Press. The 2009 TSX, which will go on sale in the spring, is the second generation of the luxury brand’s entry-level sedan. The company said the new version will have improved performance, styling, technology and safety features.
“The TSX is a significant step in the advancement of our sedan lineup and the continued enhancement of the Acura brand,” Dick Colliver, Acura’s executive vice president for sales, said in a statement.
The company did not announce the price or details of the new features. The current model starts at $28,190.
Acura, the luxury brand of Honda Motor Co., is hoping the new TSX can help revive sagging sales. It sold 33,037 TSX models in the U.S. last year, down 13.1 percent from 2006. Acura sales dropped 10.5 percent from the previous year.
Local racing roundup
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