2020 Hyundai Sonata facing delays, N Line coming next year

Hyundai's local division has indicated the all-new sedan may not reach Australia until the very end of this year, and potentially be pushed back until sometime next year.

We already know the company plans to bring two powertrains Down Under for the core range – a 1.6-litre 'T-GDi' four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine making 134kW and 264Nm, a new 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated 'GDi' petrol engine, making 142kW and 245Nm.

Both engine variants will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, and both are from the brand's new 'Smartstream' powertrain family, which aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while optimising performance.

On that topic, the 1.6 T-GDi features Continuously Variable Valve Duration technology, which "regulates the duration of valve opening and closing according to driving conditions, achieving a 4.0 per cent boost in performance and a 5.0 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency".

"Furthermore, the technology cuts emissions by 12 per cent," Hyundai says.

Beyond the potential delays, the local arm has also confirmed Australia will be getting a sporty N Line version of the Sonata in the new year, powered by a circa-200kW petrol engine.

The exact details of this powertrain are still to be announced, but the power output suggests a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine – perhaps a redevelopment of the 202kW/353Nm unit in the i30 N.