2011 Hyundai Elantra spy photos

By Matt Brogan | January 27th, 2010

The new Hyundai Elantra has begun cold weather testing as these photos show. And as we can see the new generation Elantra gets a sleeker design and a coupe like roofline, almost like a smaller version of the recently revealed Hyundai Sonata.

From the looks it seems like the wheelbase has grown a little to give the passengers more leg space. There is not so much info out yet on the new Elantra but it’s expected to be powered by Hyundai´s new 2.4-litre direct injection four-cylinder engine matched to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Elantra will be out on the market as a 2011 model.

Mad Max

In profile it looks a bit like the current generation Honda Civic
CrustyTheClown

No stopping Hyundai, wonder where they are at with the LPi [NOT LP1!] LPG/Hybrid Elantra, maybe they are waiting for this new model shown here and start with that.

Mid $25k driveaway with auto i would have one
Baddass

Looks the goods, and I’m guessing it will adopt some numeral name, like i35 (the extra 5 over the i30 to is due to the bigger body)?

Martin

That whole naming system seems a bit gimmicky to me.

toxic_horse

It may be but it’s clever.
It makes you say the name of the company when ever you refer to the car.
for example if someone asks you what sort of car you have you would say a “hyundai i30″ . where if it was a excel you would just say excel.

mazda was the master of this with its 2, 3, 6 etc names.

Safety First

What The??? Mazda the masters of the numbers?????
Hmmm So BMW haven’t been doing it for long then??
And Volvo had it down pat years ago… Pity they changed because it was so easy
eg 242 2 series 4 cylinder 2 doors
245 2 series 4 cylinder 5 doors
264 2 series 6 cylinder 4 doors

And that was in the 70′s??? Numbers work well in model designations if you get the message out there..

As to the new Elantra looks similar to the new S60 glass house and that is a compliment not a complaint.. wait till see the whole car though, hope they don’t pu to many “Organic” flowing lines in it….

Devil’s Advocate

Definitely, BMW and many others have been doing it for a long time, however there are times where the numbers in the BMWs are a lie. For example the current 335i only has a 3L engine and not a 3.5L like you would expect with the badge! I have noticed that they have done that on and off with certain models over quite a few years.
Robin Graves

Datsun 180B, 240K, 120Y, 260C
mmmmmmmmmm

I think toxic point is that mazda is the master because they did it simply.
And as a brand building exercise every model is mazda2 mazda3 mazda5 mazda6.
It is very very good marketing.

Byron

Loos heaps good. Reminds me alot of the new Sonata on the side with the windo edesign. At least they have moved the door handles up to the normal postion, unlike the current model, which has it low & makes it looks crap. Interior should be a surprise. Can’t wait for it. Go Hyundai
Shak

Thats a pretty big engine for a small sedan. Buththen agaian the Koreans are on a roll and they may want to add a bit of spice to their line up.

Andrew M

I reckon its funny how most people are saying that larger cars need to go to smaller engines to improve efficiency, yet the smaller end of the field seem to be always growing in engine size.
Not so long ago a 1.8L engine in this class was considered half decent, now even 2.5L is becoming common for a vehicle of this size.

The proof is in the pudding……..
Commodore downsized engine, economy packed on another couple of litres…..
Many small cars are upping engine size, and economy is getting better…..

Andrew M

For mine, I would probably still stick with something like a Lancer for the moment as a choice over the latest korean offerings.
Sure the Hyundai/Kia group is getting better massive leaps at a time, but the lancer for eg still gives the koreans a good run in the value stakes, and is a better drive…

Robin Graves

I dont like Lancer’s CVT – and the interior looks and feels like its from a $2 shop. The outside looks great tho and the dynamics aren’t too bad for an econobox.

Devil’s Advocate

I agree Robin. IMHO the quality of materials in the interior of a Hyundai i30 leaves the current Lancer for dead. The plastics in the Lancer look and feel like they are from used Icecream containers. Sure, the fit and design of the Lancer interior is great, however the materials quality REALLY lets the side down and is near the bottom of the small car class.

I have been in both an i30 (a diesel version at that) and a current Lancer and to me, the i30 is much quieter and feels more refined. The road noise etc in a Lancer would even put a 1st Gen Mazda 3 to shame. It may not have the performance of the Lancer, but I think it at least has it’s measure or more in most other departments, even dynamics. Half the problem with the i30′s handling is the tyres fitted to the lower model. Put some half decent rubber on it and you would be surprised how well they handle. Not quite Focus/Mazda3 standard, but not bad considering how bad earlier Hyundais were.