Hyundai is heating things up recently, and they are doing it with style. Lately, everything revolves around the reveal of the 2017 Hyundai Azera or the Grandeur as it is badged in Korea. Ahead of its official introduction, Hyundai decided to drop a few teaser sketches to bring up the hype just before the cars full reveal next month in its home market and the rest of the world after.
When something like this happens, it is common that manufacturer tease photos tend to be overly emphasized in certain aspects such as dimensions and design features, but looking at these sketches and looking at a few spy photos from before it seems that they do not stray far from what might be a production vehicle. This is a very good thing because it appears that the Hyundai found a way to breathe new life in its mid-size sedan segment. This is done with more than sportier and dynamic style design that somehow tends to pull slightly toward the Genesis G80 which might create a slight identity problem for both vehicles, but yet again we might be wrong.
Hyundai stated that “the all-new Azera’s sophisticated design represents a dramatic departure from its predecessor’s styling, while taking hints from previous Azera models to ensure it is still fundamentally recognizable as the newest generation of a distinct lineage”. This statement might mean different things in depending on the market. In its home market, the Grandeur is very popular and still highly relevant vehicle, but somewhere else, in other countries, it might be (or already is) considered to be a dying model’s last breath. The manufacturer also added that the new Azera will “spearhead a new era” for Hyundai with a new design language which includes “cascading grille” that is “just one of many new premium styling features”.
What is sad is that the Hyundai didn’t bother to provide us with some information regarding 2017 Azera’s powertrain and specifications. Very good guess here is that it will receive company’s latest four-cylinder and V6 petrol units which will be attached to an eight-speed automatic, and the possibility is that the hybrid, at least for now, will hit their home market. The Azera will be almost certainly offered on the US markets, although the mid-size sedan segment sales numbers aren’t what you would call encouraging. What is unknown is if they will reveal the vehicle’s specification at this year’s LA Auto Show or will it be in 2017 at the Detroit (January) or New York (April) events.
