- the new version of the hyundai azera large sedan (also known as the grandeur) boasts an attractive design inside and out.
- it will go on sale in korea soon, but we don't know if hyundai will bring it to the u.s.
- hyundai does still hold u.s. trademarks for the azera and grandeur names, but we'd be surprised if the new model comes here because of declining sales in the large-sedan segment.
we didn't really miss the hyundai azera large sedan when it exited the u.s. market a few years ago, but now the new model has us wishing it would come back. after releasing intriguing teaser photos recently, hyundai is now showing the new azera (known in korea as the grandeur) in full, revealing the car's interesting front grille design and a luxurious-looking cabin. hyundai also released a few more specs for the new azera, saying it will offer a choice of powertrains including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 3.3-liter v-6, and a hybrid setup with a 2.4-liter gas engine.
like its little sibling the sonata, the azera's restyling is fashionable, with a few daring design touches including the diamond pattern on the front grille. these diamonds are said to light up using a similar illuminated chrome treatment as the headlight trim on the sonata. inside, several crisp-looking large display screens dominate the dashboard: a digital gauge cluster in front of the driver, a widescreen central infotainment display, and a smaller climate-control screen lower on the center console. we've yet to sit inside the azera, but the brown-on-white-leather upholstery looks particularly rich for a car that competes in the same segment as the toyota avalon and nissan maxima.
this large sedan segment has seen a sharp drop in sales in the u.s. recently, so we don't think that hyundai will see fit to reintroduce the azera on our shores. but the company does still hold u.s. trademarks for both the azera and grandeur names, so never say never.
