2017 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur
Hyundai
dropped the first real-life images of their bolder and more youthful take on
the mid-size sedan segment.
The Koreans say the new generation Azera “spearheads
a new era” of design for the brand, and while that may hold true for Hyundai,
we can’t help but notice the styling similarities with the products of its
just-launched Genesis luxury marque that was spun off last year.
Some have hypothesized that
instead of replacing the current model, Hyundai could turn the Azera into the
‘Lexus ES’ of their Genesis brand in the States, which kind of makes sense
given the decline in the non-luxury mid-size sedan category.
The new Azera not only looks more handsome and
upscale than the current car on the outside, but inside too, especially in the
grade featured in the release photos that boasts a partially leather cladded
dashboard and door panels.
Hyundai adds that “new paint technologies and
enriched materials demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship that delivers
Hyundai Motor’s Modern Premium experience for a new, sophisticated demographic
of premium car owners.”
Powertrain options remain a mystery for now, but we
expect Hyundai to offer four-cylinder and V6 gasoline units, the former
possibly in turbocharged form as well, paired to an 8-speed automatic driving
the front wheels.
The 2017 Grandeur goes on sale in South Korea next
month, we should know more about Hyundai’s plans for the Azera
in North America.
