The new Elantra also includes some styling hints of the Spectra, and I guess none of us should be surprised about that.
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.
I am REALLY disappointed in the engine--it looks to be the engine used in the current Elantra.
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.
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 fall would have the new "world" motor developed with Mitsubishi and Chrysler. DCX is plopping it into their new Caliber.
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?
The new Caliber engines havent seemed to live up to their performance promises... the 2.0L is rated at very strong horsepower and torque numbers, but coupled with the highish weight of the vehicle, it proved over a second slower than the last Neon C/D tested (to 60).
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...
The 1.8L GEMA motor as used in the Caliber has 148 hp. So I would expect more than 138 hp from the 2.0L GEMA motor. I would also expect more power and better fuel economy than the old Beta engine. That is what Hyundai's competitors are doing with each new generation. If Hyundai wants to play, they need to do the same.
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.
With gas heading over $3.00 again they should drop in their 2.2L diesel. If they can get that engine to pass all 50 states on ULSD I bet they would sell a ton of them. I know there would be one in my driveway.
What would be the mileage gain with the 2.2 diesel?
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
The 1.8L GEMA motor as used in the Caliber has 148 hp. So I would expect more than 138 hp from the 2.0L GEMA motor.
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.
OK, so Hyundai spends years of development and billions of won on these new engines, and the result is a 2.0L powerplant that has the same power as the Beta engine from 10 years ago. Got it. Seems very reasonable to me.
"result is a 2.0L powerplant that has the same power as the Beta engine from 10 years ago. Got it. Seems very reasonable to me. "
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 have to agree with backy. I will be very disappointed if Hyundai fails to offer an engine upgrade with more power. I was honestly expecting 150+ horsepower, at least as an option for a GT version of the Elantra.
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!
Tell me backy how far is this engine off from the civic or mazda 3's basic engines??
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"
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.
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
A little more horsepower but more importantly, a steel timing chain! Also it should be lighter with an aluminum block. Wonder what the fuel economy is.
A new Elantra hatchback was spotted in Australia a couple of days ago....
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.
I just hope there is an attractive hatchback option at some point.
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).
Makes me wonder if Kia is working on a new Spectra sedan and sharing platforms with Hyundai's Elantra. Anyone heard anything about that?
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.
As for looking like the Corolla, I don't see a resemblance.
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.
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.
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.
Every American should be allowed to travel to Europe to sample some of the cars marketed there. The European's have some really nice cars available to them. For example, why Ford doesn't bring the European Focus to the States is dumbfounding. They say it's "not financially viable." After each business trip to Europe, I come to the conclusion the really "neat" cars are over there, not here!
They just showed the Elantra at the NY auto show on CNBC. 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.
This segment, (like most others) is heating up, and this vehicle looks to be a strong entry. I'm impressed by the inclusion of rear disc brakes as standard, even though the drums in competing Civics, for example, do a fine job; its still an upscale feature. The vehicle's roominess (on paper) is also impressive, as is Hyundai's specific attention to IIHS testing. Hopefully, this model won't need to be tested 5 times in the frontal offset before earning a 'Good', and will achieve at least an 'Acceptable' for side impacts.
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...
Well "flair" is subjective. The wagon gave all the benefits of the sedan but far more utility than the hatchback. Bring back the station wagon.
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.
Here's the official press release from this morning's unveiling, includes engine specs:
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!)
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).
The packaging is interesting. Starts with a decontented model for a low starting price (no A/C, no radio) and uses packages to add features, many of which used to be standard on the base Elantra GLS. I suspect that the price of a GLS with the Preferred package and destination will be close to $16k, and that we may see our first near-$20k Elantra (fully-loaded Limited with leather and moonroof).
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.
* 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).
While killing some time here at work today, I thought I would see what else I could find on the web about the Elantra. Here's an interesting link to a pic and some info about the European Elantra/Accent replacement that will be available in Europe only sometime late 2007.
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!
The body shape and proportions are very similar? You mean, they are both 4-door sedans of about the same size?
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.
Hope they fixed the front end shimmy that has plagued my 2004 Elantra and many other people's. Worst service experience ever. The warranty is worthless in my opinion.
Some other things I would have liked to see in the new Elantra:
* 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
Personally I like these pictures more than yesterday's. 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.
I really love this new car. The front looks VERY MEAN just like the 2001 version. The swooping sides give a really nice profile. The interior screams quality and looks modern. It looks less like the corolla the more you look at it. And its a BIG car, inside and out. The photos are deceiving, this car will definately look much more beautiful in real life!
Yeah, it looks like the good old days of getting a high value low priced car for $12,500 are a thing of the past. 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 bought my 2006 Elantra GLS 4-door sedan with automatic in late December, and paid around $12,500 before TTL, so close-outs should be at a real good price. After spending 4 months with this car, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one. We originally had planned to buy a Sonata, but decided to go with the Elantra and bank the rest, as our daughter is in college and money is tight.
Apologies to those who have heard this from me before... lever-type height adjusters tend to tilt the driver towards the front of the car as the seat is raised. That means it's hard for me to find a position where the thighs are supported. This is more pronounced in some designs than in others. In some cars, the seat cushion is kept fairly level as the seat is raised. So it's possible the '07 Elantra will fit me OK, but the fact that the '06 Sonata is one of the worst offenders doesn't encourage me. I much prefer the dual-knob adjusters as in the current Elantra and the Accent. These allow the front and rear of the driver's seat cushion to be adjusted independently. When C/D reviewed the '01 Elantra several years ago, they called the Elantra's driver's seat "the best in the business" or something like that. I agree with them. It's one of the best features of the car. I like the new Accent's (and cousin Rio's) seat too--similar design. It must not be cheaper to use a lever-type height adjuster, or Hyundai would have put one on their lowest-priced car (in the U.S.). The dual knobs take more time to set, but once set they make for a great driving position. The combination of a telescopic wheel plust two knobs on the side of the seat would give the Elantra a best-in-class driver's seat IMO.
Optima doesn't have ABS standard on all trim lines, as does the Elantra. In order to get ABS on the Optima, you need to spend about $20k MSRP for the Optima EX with the ABS package. If the Optima LX had ABS even available, it would be a great buy.
Comments
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: