Hyundai keeps Elantra name, reveals pricing

Hyundai’s next-gen small-medium sedan will retain its Elantra nameplate, despite speculation suggesting the car will adopt the ‘i35’ tag.

The Korean manufacturer has revealed pricing details for the next Elantra, which will be shown at the Melbourne motor show in early July. The three-tier range will include $20,590 Active, $25,550 Elite and $28,990 Premium variants.

Powered soley by a new-generation direct-injection 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, it is expected to produce 110kW and 177Nm. A six-speed manual is standard only on the Active, with the six-speed auto a $2000 option on that model and standard on Elite and Premium. Hyundai is yet to announce standard equipment levels for each grade, however six airbags and ESC will be standard across the range.

The swoopy new Elantra was designed at Hyundai’s North Amercian Design Studio in Irvine, California, with the company’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design philosophy in mind. Although designed primarily for the market in which it was designed – US buyers tend to prefer sedans, where Europeans favour hatchbacks – the Elantra is built on a newer platform than its four-year-old i30 hatchback sibling.

Hyundai shifted almost ten-times more i30 hatchbacks than Elantra sedans in 2010, despite sales of its arch-rival Corolla being split almost evenly between the two bodystyles. Although the new Elantra lacks a diesel variant like the i30, its newer design, all-new petrol engine, and more advanced transmissions should draw in more small-medium car buyers.