Seoul  - The new mid-sized Hyundai Sonata goes on sale in South Korea this month with a new "fluidic sculpture" design aimed at giving the brand a more dynamic look in comparison to competitors such as Mercedes or Audi.

The Sonata comes with a two-litre four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed gearbox. Other features include a panoramic sunroof, steering mounted gearshift paddles and push-button start.

A sales start of the Sonata is expected in the United States and Europe later next year with a slightly different design expected for the European markets including a station wagon version. Two petrol direct fuel injection models and a CRDi diesel version are in the planning. (dpa)