Sonata's sleek new look

Hyundai's new generation Sonata recently broke cover during a photo shoot and now more leaked images have emerged, confirming the brave new design.

The last Hyundai Sonata made its debut in 2004 and started showing its age a few years ago, but the Korean rival to the Mazda6, Honda Accord Euro and Volkswagen Passat has a remarkably contemporary style.

The new Sonata's silhouette could even be compared to Mercedes-Benz' seminal CLS-Class, with a sweeping greenhouse and a truncated tail end.

Showing off a daring front grille and presenting a coupe-like roofline, the new Sonata is one of Hyundai's most audacious designs yet and will serve to promote the brand's bold upmarket push in regions such as Europe.

Expected to make its global debut before year's end (possibly at the Los Angeles motor show in December or Detroit in January), the new Sonata will be powered by a range of four- and six-cylinder petrol engines, and some markets will also get a four-cylinder diesel.

As the interior shot shows, paddle shifts will be offered with automatic transmissions and class-leading safety and convenience features are a given for the South Korean car maker's international mid-sizer.

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