Hyundai teases new Sonata before New York

Hyundai previewed the next Sonata in a teaser photo on Wednesday. It looks like the designers, maybe having gone a little too far with the last generation, toned this one down.

We're a bit sad about that. The last generation was such a wild departure for the brand -- a vehicle that may have tipped the scales for the car-buying public. We think this looks a little bit too much like the fifth generation, which really didn't stand out as far as its styling.

The Korean automaker also showed a sketch of the interior of the new car. That too looks like a bit of a throwback, with medium/dark wood surrounding the front seats.

We really liked the last car, because it knew exactly what it was trying to be and knew its precise place in the market. Besides the stellar sheetmetal, the interior brought lots of black and chrome, and brushed aluminum for a very contemporary look. Compared to that, this new wood grain seems like a return to old-man status.

We'll get a better look later this month when the new Sonata debuts in Korea, and all the details are sure to follow its unveiling in New York in April.

By Jake Lingeman