We have to admit, that when Hyundai announced the ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design philosophy, we were not impressed quite. However, after seeing the Sonata guising in the Korean automaker’s design philosophy, and the newly launched i-Gen i20, it made it pretty clear that Hyundai has some pretty serious design team working behind these models. The newest member joining the Fluidic Sculpture family is the stunning Elantra Sedan that is due to hit the market by September.
The Elantra made an appearance at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi setting buzz in the industry about its official launch. This car will remark the return of Hyundai in the D segment cars after a long time. As part of the Korean automaker’s Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, the car gets a heavy dose of cosmetic updates both on the outside and inside.
Apart from the cosmetic uplifts, the car also gets tons of new features, including 6 airbags, ESP, traction control, Bluetooth compatible audio system and climate control. In terms of performance, the Elantra was never a driver’s car. As much pleasing as it looks from the outside, the car comes with a 1.8-litre petrol motor churning out 145bhp peak power. For the diesel unit, there is a 1.8-litre CRDe unit. Transmitting the power to the wheels will be a six-speed manual gearbox, and a six-speed automatic will also make an appearance soon.
Expect a September launch, with prices starting from Rs 9-13 lacs. In the market, it will battle against the Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Laura, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta.