India-bound next-gen Hyundai Elantra officially revealed

Hyundai has unveiled the new Avante sedan in Korea. This same car would make the global debut as the next-generation Elantra at the Los Angles Motor Show in November. The sixth-generation Elantra will also be launched in India, though with different engine and gearbox options.

The Avante sedan is 20mm longer and 25mm wider than its predecessor, while its height has marginally reduced by 10mm. All these will probably have no bearing on the cabin space, since the wheelbase of the new car is exact the same as before. 

The new Hyundai Elantra looks more aggressive and the smooth flowing lines have been replaced by angular creases. The hexagonal grille at the front is similar to that of the Santa Fe and the more recently launched Creta. The headlamps have projector units with LED daytime running lights and the fog lamps on the bumper are vertical LED strips. Hyundai is calling the new design ‘Modern Premium’ and in lot of ways it is an extension of the fluidic design sculpt. The biggest change is to the rear profile; the roofline flows smoothly into the boot like in a notchback. 

Underpinning the next-generation Hyundai Elantra is the new chassis which has 53 per cent advanced high steel against 32 per cent in the current model. The company says this will improve the safety and also lower the NVH levels.  The other features include autonomous emergency braking, high beam assist and blind spot detection.

Hyundai has confirmed that the engine and transmission set up will vary depending upon the region. The Indian spec car will continue to use the 1.8-litre petrol engines producing 147bhp and 178Nm along with the 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel producing 126bhp and 260Nm. Both the petrol and diesel engines will be available with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions.

The Elantra is expected to debut in India at next Auto Expo, followed by the mid-2016 launch. The car will be manufactured in India at the facility in Chennai for the domestic market as well as exports.