SANTA MONICA, California — Before the current-generation Sebring became the butt of every automotive joke in the land, Chrysler sold a stink-load of the convertible version of earlier Sebrings to folks who valued rear seats more than sportiness in their drop top. Partly, this was because none of the other mainstream players really offered a reasonably priced midsize convertible. With the Sebring laid low and the Toyota Solara and Pontiac G6 convertibles dead, the market would seem wide open for the car seen here in our illustrations.
With the sedan or coupe's roof removed, the new Sonata's dramatically styled flanks look even more striking. To keep cost and luggage volume at a reasonable level, Hyundai would choose to use a power-folding fabric top instead of a retractable hardtop. Again, should the company like a lesson in how a folding hardtop can devastate a car's proportions, it need look no further than the current Sebring hardtop convertible.
The Sonata convertible would certainly be available with the same engine choices as the sedan: a 200-horsepower 2.4-liter inline-4 as in the SE model or the 274-hp 2.0-liter turbo from the 2.0T model.
Either way, don't expect to see either the gas/electric powertrain from the recently unveiled hybrid model or the six-speed manual transmission currently offered in the base sedan.
Inside Line says: Within the next couple of years, we might be able to drive a rented four-seat convertible on our Hawaii vacation without having to wear paper bags over our heads. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit.
insideline.com
