Hyundai’s new curvy Elantra/Avante unveiled at Busan

Hyundai has unveiled its best looking car – The new Avante/Elantra. We say that because the new model looks much better than the Sonata YF/i40 on which the new generations of Elantra and Verna/Accent are based. The car was unveiled to the public at the Busan Motor Show in South Korea. The car is a completely new, ground up re-design and it looks fabulous. The Fluidic sculpture design has worked its way with this new four door coupe-like look sporting HID Xenon headlamps and LED tail lamps for extra sparkle.

Classified as a compact sedan, the new Elantra offers striking looks and before you look for the photos of the interiors, read this – Hyundai is yet to release images of the cabin but has said that the cabin offers “advanced features not found on other compacts.” Features include Multi-information TFT LCD screen, ambient lighting and heated rear seats. Catch the spy pictures of the interiors here.

More details and press release after the jump.

The sparkle has been carried over to the powertrain as well – A 1.6L Gamma GDi 4-pot produces 138bhp and 167Nm of torque, good enough to worry our Civics and Corollas. Add a 6-speed automatic transmission and the package is unbeatable. While you may be thinking that 138bhp and auto tranny saps power, intelligent GDi and valve timing means that the new Elantra returns 10% more fuel economy than the nearest competition.

According to Steve S. Yang, President and CEO of Hyundai’s Global Business Division, “The new Avante (Elantra) encompasses Hyundai’s latest ambitions, featuring the best styling and performance in its class. We’re confident that it will once again redefine the compact segment worldwide.”

Korean sales will begin in the second half of 2010, with global availability shortly thereafter. India will be a crucial market for Hyundai and this is one place where they would wish to get it right after all these years. We suggest Hyundai locally assemble the new Sonata YF and localise the Verna and Elantra (to some extent) and price them at Rs 8 lakhs and Rs 11 lakhs respectively so that they are unbeatable. Hyundai is on a roll here and will definitely break into the world’s top 10 valued car brands in no time if it keeps up this rate of progress.

Press Release

HYUNDAI UNVEILS ALL-NEW AVANTE AT BUSAN MOTOR SHOW 2010-04-29 24

• World-premier of new Avante compact, Hyundai’s global best-seller

• Featuring 1.6L Gamma GDI engine, 6-speed automatic

Hyundai Motor Co. had its world-premier of the all-new Avante compact sedan, the company’s best-selling model worldwide, at the Busan International Motor Show 2010 today.

“The new Avante encompasses Hyundai’s latest ambitions, featuring the best styling and performance in its class,” Steve S. Yang, President & CEO of Hyundai’s Global Business Division, said at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) today. “We’re confident that it will once again redefine the compact segment worldwide.”

With sportier and even more elegant lines than its predecessor, the new Avante ? badged as Elantra in markets outside Korea – continues Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design philosophy.

Hyundai has applied its latest 1.6L Gamma Gasoline Direct Injection engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front-wheel drive compact, the first time GDI and six-speed automatic have been featured on a compact sedan in Korea. The new Avante delivers a peak output of 140ps and maximum torque of 17.0kg·m. It is also about 10 percent more fuel efficient than its closest competitors, thanks to GDI, the six speed automatic and other fuel economy enhancements.

The new Avante will delight and surprise with a raft of other advanced features not found on other compacts, including HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps, LED combination lamps in the rear, heated rear seats, puddle lamps and a color TFT LCD information display nestled in the gauge cluster.

Under the Avante/Elantra badge, Hyundai has sold over 6 million units worldwide since the car’s launch in 1990. Hyundai will begin sales of the all-new Avante in the second half of 2010 in Korea.

At a separate commercial vehicle booth, Hyundai displayed a hydrogen fuel-cell electric bus and a Universe Limousine luxury coach, among other displays.

Pictures Courtesy : WCF