joe80

Hyundai is on a serious roll with the Sonata. It started out with the redesigned 2011 Sonata and its very capable standard power plant -- a 198-horsepower, direct-injected 2.4-liter engine -- and it escalated at last month's New York auto show with the unveiling of the 274-hp Sonata 2.0T and the lithium-polymer battery-equipped Sonata Hybrid.

So what's Hyundai's next move? Well, sources close to the company have suggested it will be the Sonata Coupe. When you look at the fast roofline of the sedan, it's as if the coupe body style is meant to be -- and we have no doubt Hyundai picked the final design for the Sonata with this in mind.

It's a logical move, we think, given that Honda has managed to make money in the front-drive midsize coupe segment for many years now with its Accord coupe, while Nissan moved in with its Altima coupe in the 2008 model year. Styling carries some weight among the two-doors in this price range, and a two-door Sonata would likely be the most fashionable of the three.

Since Hyundai already has the rear-drive Genesis Coupe to lure enthusiast-minded buyers, the Sonata Coupe probably won't be overtly sporty. Don't be surprised, though, to see Hyundai offer slightly more aggressive suspension tuning and tires on a high-line SE model with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Lower-line coupes will come with the normally aspirated 2.4-liter engine.

Don't look for the Hyundai Sonata Coupe before the late 2011 to early 2012 time frame.

http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...arly-look.html

joe80

Here is a rendering of Optima coupe
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...eculation.html

I think they really should make both of these coupe. there clearly is a market for it.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Midsized "touring" coupes never been a big seller for any manufacturer.

It lacks the sportiness of sibling compact coupes, and lacks the size and function of sibling midsized sedans.

I don't see anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps if they offered a convertible like the Toyota Solara or VW Eos (which is a two-door Passat), they can stand out a bit more...

joe80

Yeah, i expect coupe variant to have a different front or rear treatment. anyway, even though it's a small market, it still sells IMO. solara/accord coupe/altima coupe sales aren't that bad. if you want to be the best seller in the U.S, then you got to have all the options. camry and accord does, so why not?

anyway, this is just a rendering by a guy who is obsessed with manipulating cars. he did the Equus coupe too.
Kia should just hire Theo. (he is a regular on paul tan, another auto motive website i regularly go to).



dude is probably the most talented photochop dude i know.

-J-P-L-

Wow, that does look impressive. Both this and the Optima are both excellent speculations but I have a feeling they won't find it feasible to offer both and compete against each other in an already low volume market.

Still, I'd love for both of these to be built.

Another huge win for Hyundai/Kia. Will their incredible momentum ever stop?

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Not bad, but I agree, the market for these kind of FWD coupes isn't as big as their sedan siblings

LexFather

Just give me the genesis coupe please. This is like a new Solara

joe80

solara still sells. not alot, but it sells.

LexBob2

Solara didn't sell well enough. Toyota is discontinuing it - If they haven't already.

joe80

If Solara looked as good as the camry(sporty version), it probably would've sold 2-3 times more.

LexBob2

But it didn't.

GiantsFan

iTrader: (9)

The tails look like the new audi tails to me...

mmarshall

Have you test-driven a Genesis Coupe yet, Mike? If not, DEFINITELY check one out.....especially the 3.8L Track model.


This Sonata coupe, here, seems pretty-good-looking.....I'd give it at least a B+. I've been critical of the exterior styling on the new 2011 Sonata sedan (and I have not changed my mind on that), but those same overall lines, IMO, look noticeably better on the coupe. ........and a coupe, of course, unlike a sedan, is not expected to have much rear-seat headroom or easy entry/exit.

I8ABMR

very handsome car. The Koreans are impressing me more and more

joe80

i don't see it. i see some bmw, but not audi.