2012 Hyundai Azera Sedan to go up Against Buick

Proving that you don't necessarily need to start off with a strong brand name to succeed in today's crowded car market, Hyundai and its Kia affiliate are building their awareness among consumers with a constant stream of either brand new entries or updated vehicles that are hugely improved over their predecessors.

At the 2011 edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai is lifting the covers of the new generation of its Azera sedan that will go on sale shortly as a 2012 model.

As Hyundai pointed out, the 2012 Azera is the seventh new vehicle in Hyundai’s 24/7 version 2.0 product initiative, which means seven new models every 24 months, and comes on the heels of the all-new Tucson, Sonata, Equus, Elantra, Accent and Veloster.

The Azera is the North American version of the Korean market Grandeur that was launched in the beginning of the year.

According to Hyundai, the Azera competes against the likes of the Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima, Buick LaCrosse, Toyota Avalon and even the Acura TL and Lexus ES350.

Positioned between the new FWD Sonata and the RWD Genesis sedan in Hyundai's lineup, the Azera rides on a 112-inch wheelbase, and has an overall length of 193.3 inches and width of 73.2 inches.

The company says that it offers plenty of space for passengers with more than 45 inches of legroom and 40 inches of headroom for those sitting up front but makes no word for rear-passenger room.

The exterior styling of the new Azera borrows heavily from the smaller Sonata but features more pronounced rear fenders and a single tail lamp design.

Inside, Hyundai has attempted to offer a more luxurious experience not so much with the design as through added content such as the standard leather seating surfaces, ten-way power driver and eight-way front passenger’s heated seats, dual automatic climate control with rear vents, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition, address book download and audio streaming, plus a navigation system with rearview camera.

Optional features include a panoramic sunroof, 3D Carbon interior accents and a Infinity 550-watt, Logic 7 audio system with 12 speakers, including an eight-inch subwoofer and external amplifier.

The 2012 Azera will be offered exclusively with a 3.3-liter V6 engine featuring direct-injection technology that delivers 293-horses and 255 lb-ft of peak torque. Power is transferred to the front wheels via a standard six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control.

Hyundai says that the 2012 Azera will deliver an estimated combined fuel economy of 23mpg.

We'll have more photos later in the day, but for now, check out the first pictures and video below.

[From Hyundai Press Release]

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2012 AZERA

• All-new second generation Azera with Fluidic Sculpture design
• Powered by a new Lambda II 3.3-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine and in-house six-speed automatic transmission
  • Horsepower: 293 at 6400 RPM
  • Best-in-class combined 23 mpg
  • Better combined fuel efficiency than Nissan Maxima, Ford Taurus, Lexus ES350 and Buick LaCrosse V6
  • Best-in-class specific output
• Nine standard airbags – includes knee airbag
• Impact-reducing front seat system
• Standard VSM, ESC, TCS, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD
• Best-in-class head and leg room for front-seat passengers
• Standard 18-inch alloy wheels and optional 19-inch alloy wheels
• HID Xenon headlights with LED accents
• Segment-exclusive standard navigation system with rearview camera
• Standard leather interior with heated front and rear seats
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition
• Standard Blue Link telematics platform
• Segment-first manual side window sunshades
• Ventilated front seats

PHOTO GALLERY