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Hyundai Automotive South Africa launches the enhanced 2014 Elantra

Hyundai Automotive South Africa has launched the enhanced 2014 Elantra – incorporating a refreshed design and improved product features – with the aim to further strengthen this award-winning model’s presence in one of the most competitive market segments.

The Hyundai Elantra returns for 2014 with extensive design upgrades: A host of new features have been added, while maintaining the roominess, warranty and safety that has helped the Elantra to be a winner in its market segment.

Since the first-generation Hyundai Elantra was launched in 1990, the model accumulated global sales exceeding 8,77 million units. The Elantra has also won a series of coveted awards, including the 2012 North American Car of the Year and 2012 South African Car of the Year awards.

“The Hyundai Elantra was the first Korean car to win the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year Award, and deservedly so. It is a car with qualities and standard features that makes it a very competent competitor in its segment. The excellent ergonomics of its interior design, outstanding exterior looks and the roomy cabin and luggage area makes it a perfect compact family sedan. It is also a very rewarding and pleasing car to drive,” says Stanley Anderson, marketing director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

The present model, launched in 2011 in South Africa, has now received all-new front and rear exterior designs, along with interior styling upgrades. The “fluidic sculpture” design language that has first been adopted by Hyundai for its popular ix35 SUV and the flagship Sonata sedan was also used to create the very attractive Elantra. That striking design has now been complemented by several exterior styling refinements.

The enhanced Elantra has an overall length of 4 550 mm, which is 20 mm longer than the previous model, while its wheelbase remains the same. With front and rear bumpers extended by 5 mm and 15 mm respectively, the facelifted Elantra projects a more stable, balanced look.

The newly designed front bumper, radiator grille, fog lamps as well as adoption of LED light guide and projection headlamps add a dynamic, high-tech feel to the Elantra. When seen from the side, the redesigned 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels and chrome belt line moulding accentuate the Elantra’s premium image. A new black, two-tone rear bumper and LED rear combination lamps were also adopted.

Interior design elements were modified with the aim of improving usability, reflecting feedback from customers of the previous Elantra model. Such research and feedback resulted in the centre air vent position being moved upward on the dash, while the front centre armrest position was also raised.

Exterior changes

Exterior enhancements in the 2014 Elantra include:

  • New 17″ alloy wheels on the 2014 Elantra replace the 16″ steel rims;
  • A new headlight design;
  • New front fog lights design;
  • A chrome belt line molding;
  • A new front grille; and
  • Redesigned front and rear bumpers.

The front and rear styling of the 2014 Hyundai Elantra have been altered for a more stable, balanced look. Up front, a new open-mouth lower bumper, grille, more technical fog lights and projector headlamps add a dynamic, precise feel to Elantra.

The whole L-shaped fog light graphic stabilizes the front end and gives the car a more grounded look, while maintaining a greater sense of width that forces the eye to the corners. The headlamp and tail lamp LED accents were also given a more technical appearance to give the Elantra a stronger attitude. Viewed from the side, new 17-inch alloy wheels accentuate the Elantra’s premium image.

Interior refinements

Inside, refinements in design give the entire 2014 Hyundai Elantra a more premium feel, with subtle changes to the placement of air-conditioning vents, controls and the height of the front center armrest lending a higher-quality, simplified look.

Interior and convenience enhancements in the 2014 Elantra include:

  • A new audio system with integrated Bluetooth;
  • A redesigned climate control interface;
  • A new straight pull automatic transmission selector with a leather boot;
  • Increased height of centre armrest;
  • Repositioning of the air vents on the dashboard, now also with a shut-off function;
  • The addition of electric folding side mirrors; and
  • The addition of auto-up for the driver’s window, with a safety function.

Changes to reduce NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) even further

Since the launch of the current generation Elantra in 2011, the model has undergone significant changes to reduce cabin noise. The cumulative effect of these improvements is evident in the outstanding ride quality of the Elantra and they will be noticed immediately by driver and passengers.

NVH Enhancements include:

  • New HVAC duct absorption material;
  • New, higher density carpet;
  • Increased anti-vibration floor pad thickness;
  • Increased anti-vibration cowl pad thickness;
  • Additional expandable foam in the A pillars;
  • New anti-vibration material in dash panel; and
  • Applied full underbody cover.

Gamma 1.6 MPI D-CVVT engine

The lightweight, all-aluminium 1,6 litre Gamma MPI four-cylinder engine is used for the 2014 Elantra, equipped with D-CVVT to boost power output of 96 kW at 6 300 r/min. and allow lower exhaust emissions while delivering class-leading fuel economy. Peak torque delivery is 157 Nm at 4 850 r/min.

The Gamma has a Mechanical Lash Adjuster (MLA) that improves fuel efficiency and overall rigidity while its lower inertial mass helps reduce friction and noisy valve clatter. The intake/exhaust manifold system improves engine performance with the application of a novel structural design, reducing chronic problems and enhancing durability.

Fuel consumptio of 6,4 litres/100 km has been measured officially for the manual transmission derivative, while the automatic version recorded 6,9 litres/100 km in a combined (urban and open, rural roads) test cycle. The CO2 emissions are 152 g/km and 163 g/km respectively for the manual and automatic derivatives.

Six-speed transmissions

Hyundai’s commitment to making the Elantra highly fuel-efficient continues with a six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control or a standard six-speed manual transmission.

Developed and manufactured entirely in-house, the six-speed automatic transmission is designed for engine applications in small mid-sized passenger cars. The automatic transmission consists of three planet gears, two clutches and three brakes, which make it small, compact and light. Hyundai is one of only three global car manufacturers with its own unique six-speed automatic transmission layout.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 10,1 sec in the manual version, while automatic derivative accelerates in 11,6 sec to 100 km/h. Top speeds are 200 and 195 km/h respectively.

Ride & handling

The suspension and steering components of the Elantra are anchored to a chassis of outstanding rigidity and strength that permits more precise tuning of the final ride and handling settings.

The Motor Drive Power Steering (MDPS) eliminates the use of hydraulics of a conventional power steering system and delivers varying degrees of power assistance. It adapts itself to driving situations, such as city driving and parking in tight spots, or faster driving through sweeping curves on the open road where accurate feedback from the wheels to the steering wheel is critical. The other benefit of the MDPS is that it helps save fuel.

Levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have been lowered substantially on the new Elantra, inter alia by more sound-deadening foam in key body cavities that counters resonance of sound waves, increased stiffness of the dashboard panel and optimizing the tuning of the size and angle of the bushes in the suspension linkages.

The Elantra uses a MacPherson strut front suspension with a six-point reinforcement of the cross member that improves rigidity and handling characteristics.

At the rear, the coupled torsion beam axle suspension is simple in design and functioning, but light in weight and effective to deliver a smooth, comfortable ride and excellent stability.

A refined ride with a well-weighted and accurate steering response, linked with outstanding suspension articulation and road compliancy, forms part of the modern premium package of the Elantra.

Driver’s convenience and safety

The Elantra can boast with a long list of standard features that include safety escort headlamps that remain turned on for 30 seconds after the driver leaves the car, an auto defogging system, and rear park assistance sensors.

Further, the Elantra features airbags for the driver and front passenger, ultra-high tensile steel used to reinforce safety-critical areas of the car’s body structure such as a stronger centre member underneath the dashboard, added protection for the driver’s knees in case of an accident and hot-stamping technology used to maximise body rigidity of the side structures.

Seatbelt pretensioners complement the passive safety features of the Elantra. ISOFIX child seat anchors are also standard safety features.

An Advanced Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist forms part of the Elantra’s active safety system.

The spare wheel of the Elantra is a full-size alloy, stored under the floor of the 485-litre capacity luggage compartment.

Pricing

Included in the price of the 2014 Elantra is Hyundai’s ground-breaking 5 year/150 000 km Warranty, with 5 year/150 000Km Roadside Assistance adding further peace of mind. A 5 year/90 000 km service plan is also part of the standard package. Service intervals are 15 000 km.

The prices of the two Hyundai Elantra derivatives are:

Elantra 1.6 Premium (manual)             R247 900

Elantra 1.6 Premium (automatic)                  R262 900

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