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2007 Hyundai Elantra
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Comments
The 06 Sonata is supposed to be the benchmark for this design philosophy. If you see the new unveiled photos of the 'TG' (replacement for XG350), you will see that the lines are similar to the Sonata - clean, script, and straight-ish.
Looks like Hyundai finally has a 'design DNA'.
I would expect the Elantra to follow a similar path. Some may consider this conservative while actually its a direction critics have been demanding for years.
As for the car itself, the fact that it has dual exhaust doesn't necessarily mean anything. If you go to the Korean Hyundai website, you can see that the new NF Sonata (which has been on sale there for quite some time) has dual exhaust even when it is fitted to the smaller engine (the 162 horsepower I-4). A high power engine isn't required for dual exhaust.
Also, the idea of a more performance-oriented GT model keeps on coming up. Elantras are inexpensive cars, and only having two model ranges (GLS, GT) and one engine are things that keep costs down. Then again, however, Hyundai isn't having trouble selling its cars anymore, and there is potential for them to bring a "racier" Elantra GT to our shores. If the latter of these is the case, I would bet that the supposed engine would not be a turbo or a V6 at all. Hyundai hasn't made use of turbos in the past, and they are unreliable for the most part; both things make me disregard the idea of an Elantra turbo. A V6 would diminish fuel economy, and would move the Elantra too close to the Tiburon, a car that can get away with gas guzzling. Therefore, my idea for if they did actually bring a sportier GT would be that they would use the new 4-cylinder NF Sonata engine. That's the engine with 162 horses, and 164 lb. ft. of torque. This is an engine that wouldn't have any trouble fitting into the engine bay, and wouldn't see the considerable fuel economy and handling damage a V6 would.
Keep in mind that Hyundais cars are much more advanced than they used to be, and they are getting better much faster than anyone thought was possible (think Toyota trying to research their plant, and getting denied by Hyundai, look it up, it's true and on Edmunds somewhere). Also think about the fact that the current Elantra's EPA mileage ratings aren't that high. I bet the new car's base engine (if it has more than one engine) will see significant mileage gains (just as the new Sonata has more power and the same or better mileage, as well as the new TG330 which is the XG replacement). So if you stook that new I-4 from the Sonata into the next Elantra, I would bet on gas mileage ratings similar to the car that is out now. Although this isn't a sure thing, the Scion tC uses the exact same powertrain as a base Camry, but gets significantly worse mileage than the heavier Camry (? weird, I know).
Also, I wonder what everyone's thoughts are on the next generation 5-door. Do you think there will be one at all? It makes sense to keep it, as it is a popular choice just for being different than much of the competition, but I have seen nothing about it yet. Last time around they didn't release the 5-door until a year in, so who knows what will happen. The real question is, though: do you think it will be a wagon ala Spectra5 or hatchback ala current 5-door? Obviously the platform can work with the 5-door configuration, but which makes more sense? I would put my money on another stylish hatchback, so as to further separate the Elantra from the made-to-be-less-prestigious Spectra.
I can't wait to see how this model play out.
I would say that if they are using the I-4 from the new Sonata as the "plus" engine, it may require dual exhaust in the smaller car. Here's why: the current Elantra has variable induction. In the bigger Sonata with that same I-4 it has fixed ("tuned") induction. Maybe because the car has a smaller air dam or in an effort to get more power out of the engine, they have needed to add dual exhaust and variable induction. Just a thought.
Also, a thought is that the next Elantra may ONLY have this engine. Afterall, the current one had a lot more power than the competition standard when it came out, and now the competition is all getting 140 horsepower as their standard engine power figure. If the Elantra had 162, it'd be back in the driver seat it once was in.
The Tucson, with the old 2.7L V6 from the Sonata gets 20/26 with FWD. If you put that same engine into the new Elantra, it'd have to achieve better gas mileage. Signficantly better. The Tucson is essentially the Elantra crossover, so it is doable to put this engine in. If there is going to be a V6, this will be it.
We also have to keep in mind that Hyundai is doing this "class-above" roominess thing. The new Sonata is a large car. The Rio (which is the same as the Accent now) has more room than Civic or Corolla nowadays. The Elantra is definitely going to be the largest car in it's class, perhaps a midsize car now. A 2.7L V6 doesn't seem all that improbably in a midsize car, either. With those conditions, the new Elantra could make a better family car as the current Sonata. It'd be about the same size, with more features, and better fuel economy.
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For what it's worth, the Tiburon is also built on that platform. The Tib, however, has rather more room in the engine bay than the current-gen Elantra does, which is how they managed to cram the 2.7L V6 into it. That same V6 would require major modification to fit into an Elantra.
This is all based on current models, though. The next-gen Elantra might just throw all that out the window.
That same former-Sonata V6 (the 2.7L) is in both the Tiburon and the Tucson, which you brought up. It may actually be a situation where it is not expensive to have a V6 in the Elantra, as they'd be using the same exact parts and engineering that went into the Tiburon and Tucson V6 models.
"Come see the 2006 Elantra. With an available V6 and midsize interior accomodations, it's literally a step above the rest."
1. Gas prices are not going down. Hyundai has been heavily criticized for their current mileage ratings. The new line of engines are supposed to be about 20% more fuel efficient than the current ones. Taking that into account, I would rather see the 2.4l engine in the elantra GT and the 2.0 in the GLS.
2. Insurance costs will increase with a V6 in the Elantra. Seeing how many Elantra purchasers are younger, this is an extremely important factor to consider. Insurance has killed many vehicles in the past that people had the desire to own. Think Suzuki X-90. People in their early 20's loved it and wanted it. Unfortunately when their insurance payment was twice their car payment, they didn't buy it.
Also, the FWD Tucson gets 20/26 with a V6 and automatic. If you put that into a car weighing less that was significantly more aerodynamic for not being so high off of the ground, seeing 24/30 is not that far off. Maybe even better.
In all likelihood, there may not the a V6 Elantra. I just think that it is possible. Think back to the old Tiburon ads in car magazines that read "You won't say 'Oops! I could have had a V6."
For myself, I would much rather see a 2.4 I-4 in the Elantra. It gets 26/34 with a manual in the new Sonata, so I think we should see at least 28/36 in the new Elantra.
As for your X90 comment. I don't know of anyone that has ever held that car in high regard, or any regard at all, other than a few auto freaks. And they relish at the sight of one so as to make fun of it. It's like what the Aztek is to the SUV/minivan, but for cars like the Miata and pickups. Ew.
Why?
1) No reliable sightings or pictures yet of the new Elantra. If it were coming out this fall, as reported by Edmunds.com and other sites, there would be sightings by now. There have even been undisguised photos of the new Santa Fe printed, and that vehicle isn't due out until late 2005 or early 2006.
2) Hyundai hasn't shown this car in any of the major auto shows. But they have shown off their other new vehicles--Sonata, Accent, and Azera--that are due by the end of 2005. It is possible that Hyundai will do a Honda-esque rollout of the new Elantra, i.e. not say or show anything until the car is ready for production, but that would be unusual for Hyundai.
3) Hyundai has a lot of other new vehicles to bring to market for 2005-6. They've just launched the Tucson, they have a major rollout in the near future with the Sonata, and they've stated that the Accent and Azera will debut this fall (and maybe the new Santa Fe). That doesn't leave many marketing dollars for their best-selling car, and it would dilute public attention for all the new cars if they rolled out the new Elantra this year.
4) Hyundai has shown it is moving increasingly to a 6-year cycle for its cars, based on what they did with the Sonata and Accent. The Azera is an exception, being redone after only five years.
Thus I think we'll have to wait for 2006 for the new Elantra. I just hope it's out for awhile before I have to buy my next car in the fall of 2006.
Speaking of Hyundai's tight lips on the Elantra replacement, does anyone have any pics of the '06 model other than the sole one I've seen on this site?
Another reason I think the Elantra isn't coming out this fall is that the Civic is coming out. The Accord is who they set the Sonata's sights upon, and the Civic/Elantra thing is not that different. The Civic is coming out this Fall, so it could be that they really want to see what is going to be in that car. From what I read online, the next Civic is going to have the same engine as the 160bhp Si in 99-00 as the base model (though, certainly revised somewhat), and 200bhp for the higher-end Si. If this is the case, I think it is fair to say we will see the 2.4L Sonata engine in the next Elantra... It has 160bhp.
The Elantra will come out within six months after the Accent, which comes this Fall. The Accent is moving so much larger (it now has more room than a Civic or Corolla), and is no longer a subcompact, but a compact car in the NHTSA/EPA rating system. The Accent being this much more competitive, will certainly bite into the Elantra sales.
Maybe Hyundai is waiting to see what the '06 Civic looks like but I doubt that's the reason for delaying the new Elantra. The design for the next Elantra will be pretty set by this fall, if it's to debut in the spring. But we don't know that. It might not come until fall of '06.
Hyundai's trend is clear--its vehicles are moving upmarket. That's necessary for the Elantra to combat the '06 Civic, which reportedly is moving upmarket, the Corolla, Mazda3, and Jetta. I just hope the new Elantra doesn't get too big. It's a nice size now. Another inch or two of rear leg room would be welcome.
Just because a company delays release dates on one occasion does not mean that they are etching in stone that they will do it again. I still stand by my opinion that they will not move to a six year product cycle in the future.
Please also post any links you have that are definitively of the next-gen Elantra. There is some difference of opinion that the shots at Edmunds.com (shown at other sites also) attributed to the new Elantra are actually of the next-gen Optima.
As proven by the next-gen Accent/Rio, a car can grow greatly in interior room without growing in length much. That is what I am hoping for with the next Elantra.
~alpha
If the front end airdam setup and composite healights with the Sonataesque tail treatment aren't enough, there are some things to look at:
http://www.channel4.com/4car/gallery/spy-shots-2004/H/hyundai/getz-accent-elantra-coupe_pa- ge_7.html
http://info.detnews.com/autosinsider/sneakpeek/index.cfm?id=16579
First off, while I acknowledge that the next Optima is supposed to be smaller than the new Sonata, I think that the pictures of this car are making it look much too small to be in the same platform as the Sonata.
Everything is nothing without context. This is the most basic journalistic principle, and if you were some sort of automotive reporter and you saw spy shots like those of the Elantra (the ones available on thecarconnection.com), and you saw that an Elantra Matrix and Tiburon were the cars in front and in back of it, wouldn't you think it was a Hyundai? Also, take a look here:
http://www.geocities.com/giovanni_dee/Elantra
AGAIN, why would the Optima, which obviously different than the Sonata, which is also in the picture here, be between a Tucson and a Sonata?? The pictures we are looking at are of the next Elantra.
Also, notice that the Hyundai Sonata has 5 lug nuts. The Optima would therefore, in all reasonable likelihood, have 5 lug nuts. The Elantra in the pictures does not. I has 4.
Where do you see a clear shot of the tailights on the photos attributed to the Elantra? Also, I see five lug nuts on the photo that is supposedly of the Elantra, not four. This doesn't mean it can't be the Elantra, but it's clearly five lug nuts.
I once saw a photo (can't find it now, but it was on a competing forum so I couldn't post the link anyway) of the NF Sonata and a car that looks like a dead ringer to the "Elantra" in these photos sitting side by side. They looked to be the same size to me. So I am not yet convinced these photos are of the next-gen Elantra, but if they are then production is quite far along, so we shouldn't have long to wait before Hyundai unveils the new car to the world.
Upon reexamining the photos and whatnot, I would have to say that I am still pretty sure that the car is the Elantra, although not 100% certain. The taillamps really give it away.
and it produces 198 hp. and 190+ft lb. it should be options too on Elantra or new Cuope.
And Hyundai should put 3.8 engine on next Cuope.
Mitsu's new Eclipse has 3.8 engine with 260 hp FF.
The carconnection.com pics show the taillights heavily disguised. All I can see from them is that the taillights have red and white in them, and they are more horizontal than the Elantra's current taillights.
I doubt the Elantra will ever use the Tiburon's V6. That is an old design and gets little more hp than the new 2.4L I4. 160 hp is more than enough for this class. It compares well to the Mazda3 and even the new Jetta's base engine.
What are your thoughts on the next GT Elantra? Do you think they'll even come out with one and if so, do you think they'll do the same one year wait thing? I am going to torchy my Accord soon and I want to buy a new car. What I really want is a Tucson GLS V6 4x4, but it is a little too expensive, and I no longer want a Tucson if I have to get a GL I-4 4-2 with a manual. I could get a lower-end new Sonata (the NF next kind) with an I-4, but if I get a car I probably want a manual, and I don't want a GL Sonata to have a manual. This leaves me with waiting for the next Elantra GT. If I can come into some concrete evidence that the GT is coming, I can wait. Otherwise I think I may just buy a used Santa Fe 2.7 V6 GLS 4x4. Even if I decide to ditch the Santa Fe for the Elantra, I will always get the lowalty money.
which is even stronger than current 3.5 v6.
The new 2007 Elantra should definitely have the following features:
-XM radio standard FROM LAUNCH
-Exact same safety standard as Sonata (ESP, ABS, TCS, 6 airbags)
-17" wheels on high-end model
-Tiptronic standard on automatics
-GT variant featuring G6, tC-like panoramic sunroof so as to remain competitive and for cool-factor
-leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob
-chrome door handles and fixtures inside, or at least aluminum
-carbon fiber, aluminum, and woodgrain trim kits available for interior
-rear fold-down center arm rest
-that purse-holder that is in the new Sonata
-DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS, for god's sake
-blue/red gauges like in the Volkswagen line, but not like in the current GT how everything other than the gauges still shines green, all of the controls should light up red to compliment the gauges
-LED-esque taillamps like on the current model, but in the shape of the new Sonatas
-5-door variant available from LAUNCH: college students like myself do not want sedans, for obvious reasons
-fog lights on all models standard will set it more upscale than Kia Spectra
-10,000 mile oil change intervals
-Hide-away storage area like on out-going Jetta wagon models in trunk/cargo area
-Driver-facing dash, like on current model
-Chrome rings around anything it looks classy on, IE 06 Accent gauges
--This would be a total gimmick to draw away Scion shoppers, but like on 1989 Maximas and on the new BMW 6-series, they have a little projector that projects onto the windshield a digital read out of your current speed. That is a really cool feature that no other cars would have in the class, and would not be expensive to install.
-ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINTS
-at least 28 miles per gallon in the city, and at least 36 miles per gallon highway
-3-point seatbelts at all seating positions
-Small pull-down holder for grocery bags that allows them to hang, just like in the new 2006 Jetta.
-Homelink universal transceiver on GTs
Other than the panoramic sunroof, which would be really expensive, but worth it, I think that all of this stuff is do-able.
The safety equipment (including active headrests), rear arm rest, and better fuel economy are pretty likely too based on what we've seen so far on Hyundai's new models. Adding a rear center headrest would be a nice touch.
I'd like to see 16", 5-bolt wheels standard. You can have the chrome rings and heads-up display. I wish the chrome-rings-on-gauges fad had never started. They're just a shiny distraction, IMO. I much prefer the simple styling of the current gauges--easy to read, no glare.
Another thing I'd love to see (but doubt we will) is a 6-speed stick on at least the GT and a 5-speed automatic. More small cars are getting these now, so as Hyundai looks to the next five years they should keep up in this respect.
As for daytime running lights, no way. They are useless, other than to sell me lightbulbs. Nothing is more distracting than a vehicle behind me causing me to flip my inside mirror -- that includes during the day. That hardly makes for safer driving.
Statistically, daytime running lamps ACTUALLY DO make a significant impact on safety of vehicles. I believe it was the Highway Data Loss Institute (iihs.org) that did a study that found in parking lots and in minor accidents they decreased likelihood of a crash by an astounding number, like 70% for minor fender benders. The same study said that they cost the average consumer somewhere around $3 per year to replace the bulbs...unless you drive a VW, where the bulbs burn out constantly, then it is probably much much more haha.
Anyway, DRLs make sense, otherwise they wouldn't be the law in Canada and most of Europe!
I can see not liking chrome rings, as well, Backy. I just think that they fit in with the noveau-near-luxo image Hyundai wants.
I too have been thinking about the 5-speed auto idea. Seeing as how the 4-cylinder Sonatas don't have them, I doubt the next 'Lantra will.
About the 2006 Elantras, I have been told by dealers that they will not be changing the Elantras for next year(2006). Besides they just added the Elantra 5dr last year. The 5dr originally was only available in the GT model. Can anyone else verify this? This is in Toronto by the way. :shades:
As for price of the next Elantra... I am expecting the next generation will move up in size (maybe just into the EPA midsize class), features (e.g. standard side curtains, ABS/traction, CD/MP3/XM audio, and maybe even VSC), and price. I predict the '07 Elantra will start at just under $15k MSRP for the GLS. This would put it smack-dab between the nicely-equipped Accent GLS (around $12-13k) and the base Sonata (around $18k).
That may seem high, but compared to cars like the Civic LX and Corolla LE that are around $15-16k and don't offer anywhere near this level of equipment, that would be a reasonable price IMO assuming the quality is similar to that of the new Sonata.
Hyundai's Expanding Model Line Up Strengthened By All-New Entourage Minivan
Name and Details of Hyundai's 2007 Minivan Disclosed at Automotive News Marketing Seminar
Fountain Valley, Calif. (June 1, 2005) - Hyundai Motor America President and CEO Robert F. Cosmai, speaking at the Automotive News Marketing Seminar in Los Angeles, announced that the next addition to Hyundai's growing model line up will be an all-new minivan named "Entourage." Entourage will be the fifth of seven all-new or redesigned vehicles offered by Hyundai in a new product blitz that started in October 2004 with the Tucson SUV. Entourage will reach dealers in the spring of 2006 as an '07 model year vehicle.
Entourage will extend Hyundai's product lineup into the minivan segment for the first time. Like the all-new '06 Sonata and Azera sedans, the Entourage will come standard with an impressive suite of safety equipment, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, ABS with EBD, six standard airbags including side curtain airbags that provide protection for all three rows of passengers, and front active head restraints that protect against whiplash.
Entourage will be offered in a long-wheel base version only, and will be powered by the sophisticated new 3.8L V6 engine that is also found in the Hyundai Azera premium sedan.
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif. is a subsidiary
of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 650 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.
The reason I think this might be bad news for people waiting for the next-gen Elantra is that the new van is slated for a spring 2006 release, and there was no mention of the new Elantra (or Santa Fe for that matter). Logically, the sixth new Hyundai out the door will be the new Santa Fe, since undisguised photos are already available. That means it could be a fall 2006 release for the 2007 Elantra. The only good news is that for people like me who will be in the market for a car in the fall of 2006, we can choose from deeply-discounted 2006 Elantras or the new Elantra.