Hyundai Elantra Packs Fresh Style, New Tech

Hyundai is hoping to take another step up the smartness and sophistication ladder with its new Elantra, which is called the Avante in South Korea.

Hyundai needs new products to stem a sales slump in China and South Korea, the carmaker’s largest and most profitable markets.

The new Elantra will “play a major role in newly strengthening Hyundai’s foundation for growth in the current environment”, Vice Chairman Yang Woong Chul said in the statement. Transmission options include the six-speed manual and the six-speed automatic.

Hyundai plans to sell 50,000 units of the Elantra this year in Korea. The new Elantra is expected to launch in India towards late-2016 or in early-2017.

As earlier teasers and sneaky spy photos revealed, the all-new Elantra wears a coupe-like profile similar to its predecessor, while presenting an overall more refined and upmarket look. The last Elantra redesign won acclaim including the 2012 North American vehicle of the Year award, an accomplishment that rattled the likes of Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG. A 1.6-liter GDi delivers 132 PS and 164 Nm of torque, a 2.0-liter MPi is rated for 149 PS and 183 Nm, while a 1.6-liter VGT diesel is good for 136 PS and 306 Nm of torque. From next year, it will push to sell a total of 700,000 units with the target to export 590,000 cars overseas.

As with all modern Hyundai models, Australian models will again benefit from the company’s local tuning program. The wheelbase stands at 2700m like the outgoing version. Its wheel base remains unchanged at 2,700mm.

Hyundai has upped the content of AHSS by 32 percent over the previous generation model.

Seven airbags were installed inside with the advanced airbag available in the front seat designed for better protection of children.

Hyundai claims that the new Elantra sets new benchmarks in the segment, where interior comfort and features is concerned.

Also available are diverse safety and convenience features, including the autonomous emergency braking system, forward collision and lane departure warning systems and blind spot detection function.

Preorders for the latest model have reached more than 5,000 units since August. 26.