Sonata packs more grunt with less thirst

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Hyundai’s Sonata 3.3 V6 Elite is now more powerful yet more economical than the Holden Commodore V6.

19 April 2006
Immediate Release

Sonata packs more grunt with less thirst

The Hyundai Sonata is now officially more powerful than the Holden Commodore V6 after changes to the Australian emission rules.

The tightened regulations aim to bring compliance in line with the Euro 3 standard for petrol engines and have pushed the power of the Commodore V6 down to 172kW from the 3.6 litre engine.

The 3.3 litre V6 Lambda engine in the Sonata is unaffected by the change and sits at 173kW. Lab tests also confirm the superior fuel economy of the Sonata at 10.1 litres per 100km, compared to the Commodore’s 11 litres per 100km.

The Hyundai Sonata already achieves Euro 4 emission standards, despite these not being required for at least another two years in Australia and New Zealand.

Hyundai New Zealand Managing Director Philip Eustace said the comparison validates Hyundai’s efforts to offer New Zealanders and Australians cleaner, more economic V6’s than they have had in the past.

“This follows on from the award that Hyundai received at the recent 2006 AA Motoring Excellence Awards, for environmental efforts in the motoring industry. At the same awards, the Sonata 3.3 V6 Elite also won the medium/large car class. Hyundai is on track to keep private motor vehicles affordable, economic and powerful for many years to come.”

ENDS

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