The seventh generation Hyundai Sonata is less than a month away from its big introduction at this year’s New York Auto Show and the Korean automaker just unleashed early details on what we can expect to see during its reveal. Within the small pieces of information Honda shared about the 2015 Sonata, what we did find out is that the new design stays true to the sedan’s heritage, while incorporating innovative elements that will set it apart from the competition. Special attention has also been paid to performance and safety, enhancing the car in ways that will draw in new buyers.

The official finalists have been named for next month’s 2014 World Car of the Year Awards and we are proud to announce that the Mazda3 has been listed as a contender for the overall World Car of the Year title! The sedan is up against the Audi A3 and BMW 4 Series for the prestigious honor, and the winner is set to be revealed at the New York International Auto Show on April 17. On top of the main award, the Mazda3 is also up for World Car Design of the Year title, along with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW i3.