US-bound: Hyundai bringing i30 Wagon as Elantra in '08

Click image for 2 additional photos of the i30 Wagon
Hyundai's new i30 wagon is headed to US dealerships sometime in early 2008, and it will be badged as an Elantra. Wayne Killen, director of product planning at Hyundai Motor America says that, dynamically, the Elantra wagon will be positioned as a sporty handling vehicle. Unlike the European i30 wagon, which is powered by 1.6L engines (gasoline or diesel), the US-spec car will receive the same 138-horse 2.0L four-cylinder found in the current Elantra sedan. A 5-speed manual will come standard, with a 4-speed auto available as an option.
[Source: Automotive News (Sub Req'd)]


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sabra 8:58AM (5/17/2008)
Hmm. I have an Elantra Wagon and I think they should have stuck with the retro look. It looks like a Mazda/
Toyota knock off in several ways. The inside looks way better
and has great features from the photos, but is there a leather option, a sunroof or backseat armrest with cupholders? And,
oh God, please no more silver-- lets have some real color.
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Tim 4:32PM (4/23/2007)
Looks better as a wagon than a sedan. Tallish profile works better.
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Deezee 4:14PM (4/23/2007)
I like a lot of the new Hyundai designs. But this is where I draw the line.
It looks like something that would come out of China. And thats not a compliment.
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Max 4:17PM (4/23/2007)
Is this a Rondo variant?
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Brian W 4:32PM (4/23/2007)
"the Elantra wagon will be positioned as a sporty handling vehicle."
LOL
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Brian W 7:45PM (8/08/2007)
LOL There is nothing sporty about an underpowered Hyundai.
3cubedminus3squared 4:25PM (4/23/2007)
Any shots of the front?
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Don 4:27PM (4/23/2007)
Nothing wrong with that.
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lavardera 4:46PM (4/23/2007)
A little late to the hot wagon party, but clean up seems to be their specialty.
Look at the cute teeny weeny drilled discs!
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a jug of clorox 4:33PM (4/23/2007)
I'm not sure when those pics are dated, but NetCarShow.com has a really solid set of publicity i30 shots and they're different from this wagon. The NetCarShow gallery of i30 glamour shots resemble the Mazda3 wagon with a much shorter rear end and a sharper upward tuck in the C-pillar window. Its front quarter profile isn't that bad at all.
The interior already looks homologous with the current Elantra's cabin, esp. how the HVAC vents are shaped/arranged.
http://www.netcarshow.com/hyundai/2008-i30/
http://www.netcarshow.com/hyundai/2008-i30/
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Mark 5:01PM (4/23/2007)
The NetCarShow pictures are of the i30 5-door.
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Aprime 4:42PM (4/23/2007)
Looks more like a hatch than a wagon, but I'm digging it (I'm planning to purchase the 07 Elantra in a near future (within a month or two). :\
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Dave T. 4:44PM (4/23/2007)
jug o clorox
yes its that one.
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J 11:39AM (4/24/2007)
the i30 hatchback and the i30 wagon are two different things.
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MikeW 5:24PM (4/23/2007)
5 speed manual and 4 speed automatic in calendar year 2008?
Keep it.
The chinese have signed on with the antonov 6 speed 'auto', haven't they?
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shrique 5:10PM (4/23/2007)
"Look at the cute teeny weeny drilled discs!"
It's worse than that, do you see any calipers? (GRIN)
Actually I have a Protege5 so I'm way partial to 5 door Hatchback/Wagons. I don't think it looks that bad.
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Ethan 5:17PM (4/23/2007)
At lease it doesn't have the wave in the middle.
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Kowell 5:25PM (4/23/2007)
I hope we also get the Hatchback as well.... nontheless if the price is right this thing could be seriously considerable..... a little more power wouldn't hurt though....
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easyone 5:58PM (4/23/2007)
Finally. I was waiting for them to bring this out here. This is a sister car for the Kia c'eed in Europe. Gorgeous car with quality to match.
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Neal M 4:58AM (4/24/2007)
There couldn't be a worse move. The 5-door model would make Hyundai worth looking at to more people than a WAGON (try selling that to 20 year olds).
I seriously like the 5-door and hope that it comes out. I would trade my V6 Sonata in on one, but not for a wagon. That's stupid. Volkswagen and Honda are looking better than Hyundai more and more -- which is sad, because they aren't.
BRING THE 5, OR YOU ARE RETARDED HYUNDAI.
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