By Donald Hammonds

Remember the days when all the American automakers were worried about the impact of the Japanese brands on their business?

Well, forget that.

Their problems have multiplied.

Take a look at the all-new Hyundai Sonata:

American manufacturers better worry!

They have all but given up the sedan market, and I think that will come back to haunt them.

Both Kia and Hyundai  will clean the clocks of American brands as a whole when the 2021 selling year ends.

And I predict when the final tally on …

 Dress it up in black, add some snappy wheels, and the Hyundai Sonata looks like –and acts like–the perfect limousine for the “Green is Good”  crowd.

[caption id="attachment_7956" align="alignnone" width="640"] 2016 Sonata Hybrid[/caption]

First and foremost to that constituency, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is  plenty economical–fuel economy is up 10 percent and the car now has a combined rating of 42 miles per gallon (compared to only 38 combined last year)  40 city and 44 highway, both up from the previous model.

Better …