Hyundai’s next big launch in India is the new Elantra. The Korean automaker had showcased the Fluidic Hyundai Elantra at the 2012 Auto Expo and the vehicle had caught the attention of many visitors. Hyundai has decided to being in the Elantra to India and the launch is set to happen in September 2012. The company has commenced testing the vehicle on India roads and these spy shots come courtesy of Raj Kumar, who spotted the Hyundai Elantra undergoing routine testing in Chennai. The vehicle had Korean engineers on-board. But this is not the first time Hyundai is testing the Elantra on Indian soil, the company was testing the Elantra with heavy camouflage even before the Auto Expo.
The Hyundai Elantra will be powered by a 1.8-litre Nu four-cylinder petrol engine which produces a peak output of 148 BHP and 178 Nm. The Nu petrol engine replaces the 2.0-litre Beta engine found in the previous generation Elantra. Teh 1.8-litre engine benefits from a smaller size and lesser weight (34 kgs less than the old engine). This boosts highway economy by as much as 18%. Some of the key features of the 1.8-litre Nu petrol engine include aluminum block and head, variable induction system (VIS), Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT), Electronic throttle control, offset crankshaft and Roller swing arm and Hydraulic Lash Adjusters (HLA).
The Hyundai Elantra diesel will most likely use the Verna’s 1.6-litre motor. This oil burner could be re-tuned to offer more power and torque. The Verna diesel produces 126 BHP of peak power output at 4000 RPM and 265 Nm of peak torque output at 1900 RPM, which is more than enough for the Elantra. India will be the first market in the world to get a diesel-powered Elantra and the company will locally assemble the vehicle at its Chennai facility. Expect the Elantra to be offered at a starting price of Rs. 12 lakhs, with the top end model retailing at around Rs. 16 lakhs (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). The Elantra will be offered with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox and the vehicle will fill the void between the Fluidic Verna and Sonata.
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has received high acclamation globally. It was named the 2012 North American car of the year, which is no small feat. The Elantra was also close to overtaking the Toyota Corolla in sales last year, by selling 1.01 million units in 2011. The Elantra is just the fourth vehicle in the world to sell more than a million units in a year, with the other three being the Toyota Corolla, Ford Model-T and the Volkswagen Beetle. Little doubt then, the Elantra will come and re-write all the rules in the entry-level D-Segment. Chevrolet and Toyota need to watch out, because some fluidic magic is headed their way.
