After shelving the production of previous generation Elantra sedan, Hyundai did not enter the D-segment (sedan) of the Indian auto market. However, with changes in plan, it will re-enter the sedan space with the latest version of Elantra, which is more elegant and stylish in looks than ever. Its namesake, Avante sedan, on sale in US market has beaten cars like Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic in terms of sales. It is, therefore, obvious that the car maker has set new benchmarks with this new car, which is speculated to be launched in the country during the festival of Diwali this year.
A standard with all new offerings from Hyundai, 2012 Elantra too features the fluidic design philosophy. With the previous generation of Elantra not exactly bestowed with good looks, the fluidic design ensures that the new sedan grabs eyeballs. The car is completely a refreshed model, built along a new platform besides sporting a new look. The powertrain option available in this car is an all new range while the interiors of the car have also received an overhaul in terms of quality. Claiming a spot amongst the most loaded cars in D-segment globally, the new Elantra comes fully packed with latest features. It also boasts of 6 airbags, ABS and ESP among other safety features.
The sedan will be offered in two variants in the country including a 1.8 litre petrol powertrain and a 1.8 litre turbo diesel unit. The 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre units powering the Fluidic i20 and the Verna respectively are the only diesel models offered by Hyundai India. The 1.8 litre turbo diesel unit powering Elantra will be its third diesel offering in the country. The Elantra/Avante models sold in the markets across the globe at present, offers only petrol run powertrain, hence India will be the first market to have a diesel run Elantra on offer.
Although, the company may also use the 1.6 litre turbo diesel unit serving Verna Fluidic after tweaking it deliver better power output. In terms of power, the 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder petrol powertrain was built to deliver 148 bhp and a torque of 177 Nm. This unit is lighter and 20 per cent more fuel efficient than the 2 litre unit, which it replaces. It is mated with a 6-speed transmission unit, which is also available in an automatic variant. Hyundai may install the same transmission unit on the diesel model as well.
