The new 2007 Hyundai Elantra is the seventh new product from Hyundai in the last two years. The all-new midsize (that’s a new EPA classification thanks to 112.1 cubic feet of interior volume) gets Hyundai’s now traditional battery of safety equipment including six airbags, ABS brakes and front-seat active head restraints. The new lines echo the company’s recent design philosophy of restrained expression. While some might call that boring, others will see the new Elantra as more mature in appearance than its predecessors. The bigger dimensions allow for an interior that’s larger than the inner sanctums of the Civic, Corolla and even the Acura TL. It's clear that Hyundai is aiming the Elantra directly at both Japanese small sedans and will likely undercut them in price by a large margin.
We’ll have to wait until later in the day to bring you more specifics on the Elantra’s hardware, so in the meantime you can feast on more pics and Hyundai's pre-show press release after the jump.
[Source: Hyundai]
ALL-NEW 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT
NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
NEW YORK, April 13, 2006 – The all-new 2007 Elantra makes its world debut today at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. Hyundai’s 2007 Elantra is the 7th all-new product from Hyundai in just 24 months, giving Hyundai the freshest lineup in the industry. All new from headlight to taillight, Elantra brings more refinement, safety and interior space to compact car shoppers. The all-new Elantra is substantially roomier than either Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.
“With Hyundai’s assertive new design direction, the all-new Elantra delivers more interior space than an Acura TL, and a level of ride and handling refinement that’s both agile and comfortable,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Add in unsurpassed standard safety features like six airbags, anti-lock brakes and active front head restraints and the Elantra continues to offer exceptional value.”
IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES
All Elantras have six standard airbags, including two advanced front airbags, two front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and two side curtain airbags protecting front- and rear-seat outboard passengers, anti-lock brakes and front-seat active head restraints. Side-impact airbags are expensive options on direct competitors such as the Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus and are not available on the Chevrolet Cobalt. Side curtain air protection is optional on Corolla and Cobalt and still not available on Focus.
EXPRESSIVE AND CONFIDENT DESIGN
Elantra continues the dramatic new aerodynamic styling theme introduced on the all-new 2007 Santa Fe - assertive, refined and confident. Up front, the Elantra features projector-style headlights and a chrome-accented front grille for a more upscale appearance. The profile of Elantra features an expressive character line and a clean look with bodycolor door handles and mirrors. Elantra is wider and taller than its predecessor. Increasing the height 2.2 inches and moving the driver’s seating position up 1.8 inches opens up the cabin for more room and flexibility. Two inches of added width deliver more front and rear shoulder room as well.
A “CLASS ABOVE” INTERIOR
The Elantra is truly a “class above” Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla for interior room and now offers three percent more space than the outgoing model. Elantra is so roomy the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies it as a mid-size car, not a compact car like Civic and Corolla. With 97.9 cubic feet of passenger room and 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space, the Elantra has the most interior volume for a sedan in its class. Elantra’s total interior volume of 112.1 cubic feet exceeds the 2006 Civic sedan (102.9 cu. ft.), 2006 Corolla (103.8 cu. ft.) and even the near-luxury 2006 Acura TL (110.4 cubic feet) sedan. Elantra trunk capacity also beats Civic and Corolla. Its 14.2 cu. ft. of trunk volume is 18 percent larger than Civic and five percent bigger than Corolla.
SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Elantra’s design team worked to solve the classic design tradeoffs between interior roominess, agility and driving comfort. On one hand, interior space and cargo room are critically important in a sedan in this class; on the other hand, secure, responsive handling and good road isolation are also priorities. The Elantra’s ride quality improves upon that offered by Civic, Corolla, Focus and Cobalt. An advanced, motor-driven, engine-speed-sensing rack-and-pinion power steering ensures the new Elantra has a more agile driving feeling than key competitors.
24/7 PROGRAM
The new Elantra completes Hyundai’s 24/7 new product launch initiative when it goes on sale in fall 2006. Launched in January 2005, the 24/7 product plan includes the arrival of the all-new Tucson, Sonata, Accent, Azera, Santa Fe, Entourage and Elantra. From the flagship, full-size Azera to the entry-level Accent, each of these models has unsurpassed safety technologies and reflects the Hyundai brand’s refined and confident nature.
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