We hate to lead off the week with this disheartening news, but Hyundai will not sell the next-generation Azera you see above in the United States. Hyundai’s Korean headquarters has just released three photos of the latest Azera, and it’s possible Hyundai may have injected some excitement into this large sedan, but we’ll never know.
The news hit us as if Hershey’s had announced it was discontinuing its Symphony lineup of chocolate bars?a semi-premium offshoot from a non-premium brand that hardly anyone takes off the shelf. Back in the early 2000s, U.S. Azera sales did amount to something?cresting above 26,000 in 2006. But this generic Toyota Avalon competitor only racked up 5500 sales last year.

 
Weirdly enough, the rear of the new Azera looks like a Dodge Charger and the front like a slightly underdressed Genesis G80. Perhaps that’s why, with the Genesis brand now making a go as a separate, Lexus-aping entity, there’s no room anymore for the Azera.
But all may not be lost, Azera lovers. Hyundai’s U.S. division says this: “Considering the importance of Hyundai Motor’s flagship model in overseas markets, we are currently reviewing the possibility of introducing a U.S.-specific model that reflects the needs of customers in North America. Further information will be announced in due course.”

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