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Re. decontenting, I agree with Backy, it seems to be quite prevalent everywhere. Even the new Camry, including exposed gooseneck hinges in the trunk unlike the previous generation. As one who at one time worked in electronics manufacturing, I know the need to keep an eye on parts costs, but eventually it does cheapen the product.
I will have to wait to see a new Elantra in the flesh, but at this point, I'm not unhappy that I bought the current generation (soon to be previous) a few months ago.
With the new generations of the Accent, Elantra, and Sonata, plus the new Azera, one would think Hyundai would have designed each car with a similar corporate look, but apparently each model is unique.
What makes you think it's not the GEMA motor? Keep in mind the Beta already had VVT and other modern tweaks; I wouldn't expect any jump in hp from the Theta.
2007 Elantra
The new 2007 Hyundai Elantra is the seventh new product from Hyundai in the last two years. The all-new midsize (that’s a new EPA classification thanks to 112.1 cubic feet of interior volume) gets Hyundai’s now traditional battery of safety equipment including six airbags, ABS brakes and front-seat active head restraints. The new lines echo the company’s recent design philosophy of restrained expression. While some might call that boring, others will see the new Elantra as more mature in appearance than its predecessors. The bigger dimensions allow for an interior that’s larger than the inner sanctums of the Civic, Corolla and even the Acura TL. It's clear that Hyundai is aiming the Elantra directly at both Japanese small sedans and will likely undercut them in price by a large margin.
We’ll have to wait until later in the day to bring you more specifics on the Elantra’s hardware, so in the meantime you can feast on more pics and Hyundai's pre-show press release after the jump.
Hyundai's Press Release:
ALL-NEW 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT
NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
NEW YORK, April 13, 2006 – The all-new 2007 Elantra makes its world debut today at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. Hyundai’s 2007 Elantra is the 7th all-new product from Hyundai in just 24 months, giving Hyundai the freshest lineup in the industry. All new from headlight to taillight, Elantra brings more refinement, safety and interior space to compact car shoppers. The all-new Elantra is substantially roomier than either Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.
“With Hyundai’s assertive new design direction, the all-new Elantra delivers more interior space than an Acura TL, and a level of ride and handling refinement that’s both agile and comfortable,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Add in unsurpassed standard safety features like six airbags, anti-lock brakes and active front head restraints and the Elantra continues to offer exceptional value.”
IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES
All Elantras have six standard airbags, including two advanced front airbags, two front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and two side curtain airbags protecting front- and rear-seat outboard passengers, anti-lock brakes and front-seat active head restraints. Side-impact airbags are expensive options on direct competitors such as the Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus and are not available on the Chevrolet Cobalt. Side curtain air protection is optional on Corolla and Cobalt and still not available on Focus.
EXPRESSIVE AND CONFIDENT DESIGN
Elantra continues the dramatic new aerodynamic styling theme introduced on the all-new 2007 Santa Fe - assertive, refined and confident. Up front, the Elantra features projector-style headlights and a chrome-accented front grille for a more upscale appearance. The profile of Elantra features an expressive character line and a clean look with bodycolor door handles and mirrors. Elantra is wider and taller than its predecessor. Increasing the height 2.2 inches and moving the driver’s seating position up 1.8 inches opens up the cabin for more room and flexibility. Two inches of added width deliver more front and rear shoulder room as well.
A “CLASS ABOVE” INTERIOR
The Elantra is truly a “class above” Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla for interior room and now offers three percent more space than the outgoing model. Elantra is so roomy the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies it as a mid-size car, not a compact car like Civic and Corolla. With 97.9 cubic feet of passenger room and 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space, the Elantra has the most interior volume for a sedan in its class. Elantra’s total interior volume of 112.1 cubic feet exceeds the 2006 Civic sedan (102.9 cu. ft.), 2006 Corolla (103.8 cu. ft.) and even the near-luxury 2006 Acura TL (110.4 cubic feet) sedan. Elantra trunk capacity also beats Civic and Corolla. Its 14.2 cu. ft. of trunk volume is 18 percent larger than Civic and five percent bigger than Corolla.
SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Elantra’s design team worked to solve the classic design tradeoffs between interior roominess, agility and driving comfort. On one hand, interior space and cargo room are critically important in a sedan in this class; on the other hand, secure, responsive handling and good road isolation are also priorities. The Elantra’s ride quality improves upon that offered by Civic, Corolla, Focus and Cobalt. An advanced, motor-driven, engine-speed-sensing rack-and-pinion power steering ensures the new Elantra has a more agile driving feeling than key competitors.
24/7 PROGRAM
The new Elantra completes Hyundai’s 24/7 new product launch initiative when it goes on sale in fall 2006. Launched in January 2005, the 24/7 product plan includes the arrival of the all-new Tucson, Sonata, Accent, Azera, Santa Fe, Entourage and Elantra. From the flagship, full-size Azera to the entry-level Accent, each of these models has unsurpassed safety technologies and reflects the Hyundai brand’s refined and confident nature.
This new Elantra looks good, although it looks scarily close to a Saturn Ion or a Saturn of some flavor in front. Then again, it has its own Hyundai styling flair. It looks pretty good overall-I'm thinking Hyundai will sell shipload after shipload of these babies.
So this completes the whole new Hyundai lineup launch. Pretty impressive and I'm thinking Hyundai and Kia both are just getting better and better and better.
Makes me wonder if Kia is working on a new Spectra sedan and sharing platforms with Hyundai's Elantra. Anyone heard anything about that?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
The updated 1.6L engine in the Accent hasn't impressed either, yeilding pretty sluggish acceleration (not everything can be blamed on the gearbox, and certainly not on the vehicle's weight, which is class competitive).
Maybe sticking with the current 2.0L isnt such a bad thing...
~alpha
As for looking like the Corolla, I don't see a resemblance. The front is not similar, the rear is similar only in that both the Corolla and Elantra now have horizontally-oriented taillights, and the Elantra has a much different profile, and has the character lines on the side that the Corolla does not.
Hyundai has some cars in Europe that get rather impressive mileage but not to sure if the cars would be sellable here in the U.S.
They are talking about a hybrid Accent that should get pretty good mileage, if that does good what about a hybrid Elantra or even Sonata? or a hybrid with a diesel?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Ah, but remember that the GEMA spec is for the block and internals. The head design is left to each of the three partners in the consortium. DCX put dual VVT and a variable intake manifold on the Caliber motors, thus the extra power. For whatever reason, Hyundai decided not to do that for the Theta motors in the Elantra and Sonata.
Edit: it also looks like DCX tuned their GEMAs for horsepower but ended up with a rather high torque peak. Hyundai tends to tune more for a lower torque peak, which holds down the hp numbers a bit.
Not.
Tell me backy how far is this engine off from the civic or mazda 3's basic engines?? This is a good economic engine. Take a read about the 2005 spectras engine(same as this engine with some very minor tweaks) . Editors state it is definitely peppy enough. Even if this is the sole engine , a 140 horses engine (well 138 but with some great torque levels) this is a very good enough engine.
How about Toyota with its 5 year camry engine 4 cylinder carryover also?? come on man
Nobody just knows about the spectras engine cuz quite frankly the car has done horribly in sales which had nothing to do with its exceptional engine aka elantra engine now
I WILL NOT buy a new Elantra that has the same power as my current Elantra. As it stands now, I have to manually drop from 4th to 3rd gear on the highway to prevent the transmission from constantly hunting for the right ratio whenever I encounter a lengthy incline. It's annoying.
Be daring, Hyundai. You shook up the automotive world by making safety standard across the board on the new Sonata. Now you need to focus your efforts on the Elantra and make it stand out from the crowd. You helped in the development of 3 new world class engines, the least you could do is USE THEM to their fullest potential!
Sure. The Civic gets 25% better fuel economy than the current Elantra while the Civic has a little more power out of 1.8L than the Elantra gets from 2.0L. The Mazda3's base engine gets 150 hp, compared to 138 from the Elantra. Even the Sonata gets better fuel economy with its much larger and more powerful I4 engine, in a heavier car, than the Elantra.
I don't know what the fuel economy ratings of the 2007 Elantra are. If they are up near those of the Civic or Corolla, then I would be satisfied with 138 hp. But if it's the same old engine as in the 2004-2006 models, I am very disappointed. As in, I waited six years for this?
"2.0 DOHC
Among the new technologies are aluminium alloy block, variable valve timing, variable intake system, electronic throttle body injection, silent steel timing chain and Iridium spark plugs.
Maximum power :106.3kW at 6,000rpm.
Maximum torque :188.3N.m at 4,250rpm.
Truly, a world-class engine"
106.3kW=142.6bhp
Have you had your car checked out, I have never had that problem on inclines with my Elantra. I find the power more than adequate for daily driving.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
There was an online article that described a "hatchback" with no pictures. I read the article and I believe it was really the sedan they were describing. The fact that the new Elantra has rear quarter windows (like the XD 5-door) probably confused the reporter.
No, they should abandoned the hatchback altogether and (are you listening Hyundai?) bring back the station wagon.
The old Elantra station wagon had no flair at all. If you're going to bring that style of vehicle back, don't bother. As an 05 hatch owner, I really *like* the fastback styling and prefer it over, say, the Spectra5. Every Spec5 I see on the road looks a little too heavy and ungainly in the back end (probably just a ride height issue, but they don't pull off the same look as, say, the Mazda3).
My understanding is the new HD Elantra started from the current Spectra design which started from the current XD Elantra. The next Spectra will undoubtedly begin with an HD Elantra floor pan and go from there. Each release of those two cars seems to be staggered so that the two models "leapfrog" each other, resulting not in revolutionary design, but rather a rapid evolutionary design. This probably limits developmental risk.
You gotta be kiddin' me. After looking at the new Elantra pics for the last day or so, I saw a Corolla at dusk and I coulda SWORE it was a new HD. The styling cues may differ, but the body shape and proportions are *very* similar.
That's the problem right there with American design: They tune for a very narrow torque peak. So if you want to run at 3874 rpm (or whatever), the car moves out. But if you want moderate acceleration from a light, there is no power there.
When I traveled to Europe last year, I got a Vauxhaul Vectra, about the same size as a Taurus, and it had either a 1.6 or 1.8 L engine. It also had more than enough low-end torque to make me fail to notice. It tooled around town fine, and accelerated on the motorway fine. I never felt like I had to rev the daylights out of it to get there like you do with an American four-banger. And that car got over 30 mpg while I was there.
Having a narrow peak = no low-end torque. But you get a nice high HP number to quote in your brochures. And if you use it, your fuel economy goes down the tubes.
But you can brag about your horsepower.
</rant>
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Looks pretty sharp. Mentioned more room as in a mid-size car. Will sell for under $14K.
Noticed some controls on the steering wheel. I guess for the radio. No body-side molding. Standard antilock brakes and plenty of airbags.
press release
Engine specs are on par for the class. It will be interesting to see where the fuel efficiency lands, as the PR doesnt really make mention of that. Potential PZEV credits are good, but as with most vehicles, it comes at a slight (6 hp) penalty.
Obviously, having debuted for the '03 model year in March 2002, the Corolla is still a good vehicle, but now a bit long in the tooth. No significant competition there, and based on the paper stats, I'd choose the Elantra over that car. BUT- there are a few points on which the new Sentra impresses me- more sophisticated transmissions, expectation of a bit more power, more stylish (subjective), more sophisticated options like Bluetooth, Intelligent Key, NAV, and its less than 2 cu. ft. smaller than this apparently HUGE Elantra. The Civic and MZ3 remain the bogeys for now...The new Dodge Caliber has disappointed both the C/D and MT camps, so in terms of critical acclaim, thats probably no worry for Hyundai's march up the perception ladder.
It will be interesting to see if this new Hyundai can match the class benchmarks...
~alpha
My sources say that the Elantra hatch will be a wagon style, but I just don't like that idea. Such is life, I guess. A square back may not be as sexy as a fast back, but at least there will be a hatch.
My hesitation with the square back though, is this: I seriously looked at both the Spectra5 and the Elantra 5-door. I ended up with the Elantra and recently came to the conclusion that it was fortunate because whenever I see a Spec5 on the road, they just kind of appear ungainly and overloaded in the back end. I don't know if it's a ride height issue or what, but Spec5s just never seem to look as good in real life as they do in the photos.
I suspect that they are placeholders pending final testing. It just seems odd they would have exactly the same horsepower as in the current generation engine. I'm not ready to put much stock in those engine specs. Better to give a low number and pump it up prior to the final version of the specs, than to advertise something hot and go with something lower in the end.
On the other hand, if they can keep the same horsepower and get something like 28/37 mileage numbers with an AT, that would be a strong selling point- same power, better mileage (especially with gas prices recently!)
Woohoo! Rear disc brakes, telescoping steering wheel, iPod jack!
Rear disc brakes are nice to have. I WISH I had a telescoping wheel on my 05 Elantra; it would make it easier for me to see the instrument cluster through the wheel I think (I'm 6'-2"). The tilt is okay, but it would be so much better with telescoping. And the iPod jack is a must have because if you look at the radio, it appears to be a very integrated, odd-sized design which would make an aftermarket installation awkward. The iPod jack gives flexibility, especially for the base stereo which is CD only (not MP3 compatible).
It looks like the best features of the car will be its safety equipment, its room, and its ride. I am glad to see that active front head restraints are standard. Curious that ESC is not an option, since it is on the Corolla--one of the Elantra's main targets.
Some other things I would have liked to see in the new Elantra:
* 5-speed vs. 4-speed automatic. Also SHIFTRONIC would be nice.
* A GT variant with a more powerful motor, maybe the 2.4L from the Sonata
* Telescopic wheel on all trim lines
* [reprise] A more modern engine--although the emissions of the engine are good. Hopefully the SULEV variant will be available everywhere; it isn't now.
I am crossing my fingers that Hyundai retained the dual-knob seat height adjuster for '07 instead of going to a Sonata-style lever-type arrangement.
What is ESC? Electronic Stability Control?
* 5-speed vs. 4-speed automatic. Also SHIFTRONIC would be nice.
Look for that in a future update and/or a sport model (see my next comment)
* A GT variant with a more powerful motor, maybe the 2.4L from the Sonata
My prediction is that whether or not they call it the GT, the hatch version will have this, and maybe a better AT.
I am crossing my fingers that Hyundai retained the dual-knob seat height adjuster for '07 instead of going to a Sonata-style lever-type arrangement.
I bet they won't do that. My guess is that the single-lever control is less costly to produce (fewer piece-parts) and it will be a cost savings to Hyundai to go to it. They will justify it by saying all that adjusting isn't as necessary since the new model is roomier (now more solidly in the mid-size category).
Hyundai FD/Elantra
The pic on the above webpage is the Kia cee'd concept car that will be the basis of the Kia ED model (Cerato replacement) and the Hyundai FD model (combined Elantra/Accent replacement). It has some real potential, unfortunately it is currently intended for Europe only!
Other than that, I see very little resemblance between the Corolla and Elantra. Look at the swept-back headlights on the Elantra--the Corolla is less daring. Look at the side sculpting on the Elantra--the Corolla has flat (boring) sides. Look at the greenhouse--much more streamlined on the Elantra. The dashes on the cars are much different also. About the only resemblance I can see is that the grilles have roughly the same shape. But the Elantra's looks larger and has the chrome accent at the top.
If anything the Elantra looks like a baby Azera.
* 5-speed vs. 4-speed automatic. Also SHIFTRONIC would be nice.
More often than not when they increase the gears the final gear ratio barely changes, so in that case I would say that a four speed is enough for the car. Shiftronic would also be nice but in reality if you want to shift gears get a manual. I do think it would be a good ideal if hyundai would work on getting a CVT in some of their cars. It would give a smoother acceleration (no shifting of gears) and might be able to produce one or two MPG more. You could also work out something like the shiftronic with a CVT.
* A GT variant with a more powerful motor, maybe the 2.4L from the Sonata
I have heard scuttlebutt that says an optional more powerful power plant could be in the not so distant future.
* [reprise] A more modern engine--although the emissions of the engine are good. Hopefully the SULEV variant will be available everywhere; it isn't now.
A more modern engine would be nice, but if they upgrade the current one and are able to increase mileage by 10% or so it would be more than adequate.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It looks sportier and sexier.
I was a little disappointed with the pictures yesterday, but I
say to myself that it's too much expectation for a economy car.
2007elantra at autoblog.com/a>
autoblog
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/13/new-york-auto-show-hyundai-displays-its-new-e- - lantra/
Hollywood extra
http://thehollywoodextra.blogspot.com/2006/04/2007-hyundai-elantra_12.html#comme- - nts
Well, there's always the Accent.
With the option packages the price will be up there with all the others.
Oh well, at least I got one of the good old 2004 deals before Hyundai got too proud of itself. :P
I sure wish Hyundai would re-do the awkward interior styling and treatment of the Sonata with a layout like this one.....
Very impressed by this Elantra! Can't wait to see how it drives!
~alpha
All of sudden, Optima looks to be a better choice, including 2.4L.
Man this looks like one sweet ride! :shades: