Hyundai Motor said on Wednesday it has implemented its newly developed third-generation vehicle platform to the all-new Sonata scheduled to go on sale later this month.

The new platform will improve the market competitiveness of Hyundai`s newest Sonata and future vehicle models with greater flexibility for vehicle development, which dramatically enhances safety, efficiency, power, driving performance and overall design, the Korean top carmaker said in a statement.

The new platform built on the former platform`s core advantages achieves over 10 percent stronger durability and over 55kg weight reduction. The platform’s multi-load path structure disperses the energy absorbed by the vehicle in a collision, improving safety with minimization of collision impact into the passenger cabin and the other vehicle.

Driving stability is enhanced by lowering the position of heavy equipment in the platform, which reduces weight and lowers the center of gravity. The new platform also improves air movement to the engine bay and heat dissipation, which enhances stability in the lower part of the vehicle and minimizes air resistance to deliver excellent efficiency and power performance, according to Hyundai Motor. Changes were also brought to the overall design and internal space with a 30㎜ lower height and a longer wheelbase. Hyundai Motor’s first-generation platform was adopted for the YF Sonata in 2008 and second for the LF Sonata in 2015.

The new Sonata built on the third-generation platform is a smart mobility device with the car’s basic elements taken to the industry’s highest level, said Fayez Abdul Rahman, vice president, Architecture Group from Hyundai Motor.

By Lee Jae-cheol and Minu Kim

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