The 2014 Hyundai Mistra has been launched in the China car market.

The price starts at 129,800 yuan (US$ 21,300) and ends at 189,800 yuan. The Hyundai Mistra is a brand new China-only mid size sedan made by the Beijing-Hyundai joint venture.

At it's launch the Mistra will be available with two engines: a 1.8-litre with 146 HP and 175 Nm and a 2-litre with 162 HP and 194 Nm.

Both engines are mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

In 2014 a new and very strong 1.6-litre turbo will join the line-up. Output is 204 HP and 265 Nm.

Dimensions - 4,710 mm / 1,820 mm / 1,470 mm and wheelbase is 2,770 mm.

It sports more wood, which is always good as Hyundai is bringing wood back to the mid-size sedan in China. There was a lot of wood in the early 00's with even the smallest cars having fake-wood panels on the dash. Then suddenly all wood disappeared for alu-stuff and fancy plastics, but lately we have been seeing many cars with wood again.

The new sedan will compete with fine cars such as the Volkswagen Sagitar, the Citroen C4L and Honda Crider, all relatively small sedans with a premium look and feel.

The Korean attack will be hardened on the segment in 2014 when the new Kia K4 sedan arrives, which is based on the same platform as the Mistra.