First Look: Hyundai Avante/Elantra

Hyundai Motor Co. had its world-premier of the all-new Avante compact sedan, the company’s best-selling model worldwide, at the Busan International Motor Show 2010.

“The new Avante encompasses Hyundai’s latest ambitions, featuring the best styling and performance in its class,” Steve S. Yang, President & CEO of Hyundai’s Global Business Division, said at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) today. “We’re confident that it will once again redefine the compact segment worldwide.”

With sportier and even more elegant lines than its predecessor, the new Avante, badged as Elantra in markets outside Korea - continues Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design philosophy.

The new Avante will delight and surprise with a raft of other advanced features not found on other compacts, including HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps, LED combination lamps in the rear, heated rear seats, puddle lamps and a color TFT LCD information display nestled in the gauge cluster.

Powering the Avante would be the all-new 1.6L Gamma GDI engine which was first shown in Beijing auto show last week. It is the smallest member of the Hyundai gasoline engine family to benefit from the application of Gasoline Direct Injection technology. With the help of GDI, this four-cylinder powermill develops 140ps, an approximately 13 percent improvement over a conventional 1.6L Gamma fed by MPI. GDI technology doesnt only boost power output: It also improves fuel economy while lowering emissions. The new Gamma also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing, a Variable Induction System and exotic anti-friction coatings such as CrN Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating and Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating.

Under the Avante/Elantra badge, Hyundai has sold over 6 million units worldwide since the car’s launch in 1990. Hyundai will begin sales of the all-new Avante in the second half of 2010 in Korea.

Credits: wilswong