phile

On the one hand it's definitely a right step for the Elantra - it's different, it's unique, finally Hyundai as a brand has a design language that unifies the brand.

But on the other hand, I think the Sonata look is now going overboard with this Elantra. It's a bit too heavy handed here.

Black Tire

WOW..I am amazed!

chungkopi

this design is not for everyone, but it's very passionate.

i think this is very important car for Hyundai. This finally looks good enough for Europe. Hyundai just won the best quality awards from Germany(autobild) and UK. now, this has the looks to back it up.

chungkopi

more pics.

chungkopi

korean spec. so it does get 40 mpg for manual. hopefully this thing gets 2.4 GDI as well. i wouldn't mind getting 5 less mpg. 2.0t would be even sweeter.

Type34

Hyundai builds a Prius!



Well, first the Insight copied the Prius, then Chevy Volt, now Hyundai...looks like this may be the shape of things to come in the compact segment...not bad though...

chungkopi

wa? new elantra looks nothing like prius. new Elantra is hyundai's another fluidic sculpture variation. shape mimics sonata and big hexagonal grill is hyundai's concepts from 2005.

again, looks nothing like prius. nada.
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this is how prius looks like. i really fail to see prius in elantra.



this will be hyundai's prius fighter.

Type34

The shapes look very similar to me. But my point wasn't that Hyundai is copying the Prius per se, but rather the cab-forward curved hatchback design language is here to stay. (Civic, Prius, Volt, Insight, now Elantra...)

chungkopi

i get what you are trying to say. but prius has nothing to do with what hyundai is trying to do with sonata, accent, and now elantra. you can say it all started with MB CLS then passat. hyundai followed these hot germans. hyundai wanted a sexy 4 door coupe, not fugly prius.

MyCarIsntInMyWifesName

I want an Avante/Elantra 2.0T!

chungkopi

self parking

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http://worldwide.hyundai.com/company...d=&ListNum=201


well, i find a self parking technology pretty useless. i don't see any point in it...

biker

^ unless you are a Hyundai marketeer and want to claim that you have some of the same technology as an LS460.

Belzebutt

It's not pointless for a grandma who can't parallel park...

JediMindTricks

this is not pointless in korea....

yohan81718

^ well in korea, it's more of very tight/compact parking lot than parallel parking

pttl

I think this car looks far better than the Sonata from an exterior design standpoint.

charliemike

I think it looks better than the Fiesta sedan.

chungkopi

well, it competes with Focus, not Fiesta. but agreed. I think this is the best looking compact IMO.

fsttyms1

If you cant do something as simple as parallel parking, you shouldnt be driving

Belzebutt

^ That is correct although unfortunately it's not enforced.

jim165

Looks like Honda may have to go back to the drawing board with the next generation Civic....once again.

chungkopi

Hyundai confirms 2011 Elantra to arrive in U.S. by end of the year

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/03/h...end-of-the-ye/

















the bar has been raised, folks. 38.8mpg combined mileage. damn.

chungkopi

Maybe they should just steal Hyundai's designer. pay them more $. why not?

Belzebutt

Anyone notice the metal pedals? Awesome touch, you don't even get that on most premium brands.

I wish they would take pictures of cars with nicer colors.

AsianRage

Yeah, cause now Honda can scrap their ugly design and come out with something better. No need to copy the competition.

AsianRage

Bleh, no thanks. I don't like what Honda is doing in the styling department right now, what with the mishandling of the Accord line and the vanilla bean Pilot. But I hate the overwrought design of Hyundai's current and upcoming crop of cars. Fluidic sculpture, my buttock! More like let's turn flame surfacing into a joke and then make it even more cartoony.

yohan81718

i like both sonata and elentra's rears

pttl

What are the engines coming in this car?

I think this thing will thump the Civic etc...

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

probably the 1.6 and the NA engine from the sonata. but if they put the turbo in there

interior looks awesome.

chungkopi

obviously you don't like hyundais. we get that. but you can't simply ignore their recent 'styling' success. most hyundai/kia came out recently made some sort of a design statement and has been applauded by reviewers/publications and general publics. it obviously isn't a love/hate design by the public because those recently designed cars are outselling previous models by up to 200%. sure it's a subjective matter, but sales numbers don't lie.

.

AsianRage

No, the only Hyundai design I like is the Genesis sedan design. It's the first time that they've able to congealed all of the disparate design cues together into a cohesive looking vehicle. And then we get this Sonata BS. Given the state of the economy, I'm largely convinced that most buyers bought this iteration of the Sonata is because of the same reasons they've bought Hyundais Sonatas before. It's cheap, high in value content, and, instead of copying the Accord, it now looks like the cars that they couldn't afford right now (i.e. Mercedes CLS, VW CC, Lexus ES). IMO, of course. And it is a love/hate design because I hate it and I know people who hates it as well. But seriously, why should anyone count the opinion of others when I consider whether a car looks good or not. It's all subjective anyway.

chungkopi

Yes it's all subjective. but i think anybody can see koreans are getting better while honda is stuck at the 2nd gear and maybe even regressing. Hyundai has made some of the most boring cars ever. but you see a gradual improvement in their design. they are learning and adapting.

people may see me as a hyundai homer, but i was very critical on hyundais for the longest time. hyundai designed some of the laziest design ever to most boring car ever in last 20 years. they were horrible. my take on hyundai's recent design.

Genesis Sedan - an epitome of ultimate korean conservatism. 'let's just settle and be just good enough to compete' design. let's just make it look like its a cross between bmw/lexus and call it a day. sure it looks good. no one hates genesis design because it's as safe and anonymous as it gets. but it's not challenging. it's not bring anything new to the table. I understand the decision because it's just too risky to gamble on design when you are trying to sell a 40k car.

Genesis Coupe - a good designed car minus a good confident front grill. it's probably hyundai's first real 'styling' achievement. although it's not perfect, it made people notice. it looks athletic, well proportioned and no nonsense sports. shame that front doesn't work. i got used to it, but i can see why people hate it.

sonata - isn't original, but it's daring because there were no 4 door coupe design in its segment before. it's the new kid, and it sure is making alot of noise. you might hate the Sonata, but most likely 8 of 10 people will prefer Sonata's look over Accord or camry.


new Elantra - Koreans taking another step. This is by far the best korean car design ever IMO. it's adventurous with a good proportion. whether you like the insect like fish face or not, this is something Hyundai should be very very proud of.

koreans now have family look going. people are now talking about their design. Honda? ultimate regression. they don't know what they want. they don't even believe in themselves. none of their recent stuff screams a confident design. I dearly hope Honda changes their design direction. maybe hire a German designer like Kia? i really hope they please do something about their design.

jim165

Well said Chungkopi...I wholeheartedly agree.

AsianRage

Of course, that the nature of things. I think that Honda has made some missteps in trying to grow. I hope that they'll bounce back soon, with the new Civic, I hope. Design is an easier thing to fix.

It's also very natural in the midsize luxury class to be more conservative with the styling. I'm curious about what direction they'll take in the 2nd iteration of the Genesis sedan.

I can agree with this. But the coupe design really bring to light the issue of substance and that's what they lack. Generic, disposable styling that copy trends and cliches, thus lacking the finesse and substantive visual finishes that defines an established brand's evolutionary styling cues. I love Infiniti's new designs for this aspect among others. Evolutionary yet fresh and exciting.

Let's apply something from the garment industry. It's like if Gap were to copy everything from Michael Kors and Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein, just so they can say to Old Navy, "Hey, look at my daring style and fresh styling." Sure more people will buy Gap clothes more, but it won't make it a better brand. Just a more well known plagiarist. I don't care for it. I might even like a few design, but it certainly won't make me respect the brand anymore than I can despise its shamelessness. And I'd rather drive Mazda 6 and Camry and Accord and Fusion instead.

Well, it's a good car design, with mish mash styling cues from Honda, Ford and Mazda. It is really amazing to me that they were so good in incorporating everything and still make it a small version of the Sonata.

As much as the current Civic design isn't my cup of tea. It was a successful and influential one. I had hoped that they would have translated that design language to the Accord, but they didn't. That's sad. But we'll see what they'll turn out for the next generation.

Great discussion.

chungkopi

I do see some Ford(creases) and Mazda(grill), but I really don't see any Honda design cues. the big fish like grill(later tranformed to hexagon grill) has been used by Hyundai since 2003. from HCD8 to later 06 arnejs concept, hyundai made alot of noise in autoshows. so actually Hyundai started the big grill concept well before Mazda and Ford did. but of course, they didn't have balls to make it happen for production models, and always gave us watered down boring crap for the longest time.

but it seems like hyundai grew a pair lately. they are really trying bring concept to reality. this Elantra would've never happened 3-4 years ago because bald korean men with ties would not have approved this kinda design.

phile

now i wonder if the projector headlights are standard equipment? And if HIDs would be available? that would be totally awesome. Hyundai FTW

fsttyms1

may??? They have to with the entire line up at the rate Hyundai and others (like ford) are designing cars now.

Costco

wow.

standard, doubt it. Option, probably

TL1999

LOOKs good...

AsianRage

I do admire the conjones that were needed to get the design out the door. But if only the designs weren't so overdone.