Hyundai announces Elantra Touring

[SuperGLS]

So, check this out. The next 5 door (probably the i30) Elantra will be called the Elantra Touring. That's pretty basic. Press release:

HYUNDAI ANNOUNCES NAME OF FUTURE FIVE-DOOR
ALL-NEW 2009 ELANTRA TOURING MOVES A POPULAR NAMEPLATE IN A SPORTIER, MORE FUNCTIONAL DIRECTION

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., 08/08/2007 Hyundai Motor America Vice President of Product Development and Strategic Planning John Krafcik, speaking at the Center of Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars, announced Hyundai’s all-new five-door compact will be named “Elantra Touring.” Elantra Touring will reach dealers in the spring of 2008 as a 2009 model year vehicle. The “Touring” name captures this all-new model’s combination of high-function and fun-to-drive character. Elantra Touring will once again extend Elantra’s product line into the compact five-door segment. (The previous generation also featured a sporty five-door model). Elantra Touring will come with class-leading standard safety technologies, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and six standard airbags, including side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. The vehicle will be the first compact five-door with standard Electronic Stability Control.[1]

Elantra Touring will have the most interior volume (passenger volume plus cargo space) of any five-door in its class and will be powered by the same fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, in-line four-cylinder found in the Elantra sedan. This newest Hyundai will also feature unique sport suspension and steering tuned for greater response and handling, while offering Hyundai’s first USB port, along with a standard auxiliary jack and standard XM Satellite Radio®. Elantra Touring’s competition will include the Toyota Matrix, Dodge Caliber and Mazda3.

Same old Beta... uhh. Hopefully over the next year or so they can look for a different engine choice.

Link to the FD/i30 thread.

http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21660

[slyderdai]

if it turns out to be the i-30 hatch sign me up my wife is wanting one of those soooo bad. I showed her here and she loves it. She will come over to the darkside. She hates the xd but i tell her she can't get a car that isn't a hyundai!!

[RedScorp]

Elantra Touring will have the most interior volume (passenger volume plus cargo space) of any five-door in its class and will be powered by the same fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, in-line four-cylinder found in the Elantra sedan.

So the hatch will be getting fatter just like the 2007 Elantra and no engine HP improvement. I say HMA can keep their "Touring" car. If I wanted to buy a hatchback, I'd be wanting a sporty motor too.

[Matrixloader]

Hyundai has announced that the 5-door you see above is set to arrive next year as a 2009 model and will be named the Elantra Touring. It will use the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder currently found in the Elantra sedan. Based on Europe's i30 wagon, the sketch provided by Hyundai suggests that the US-spec car will be more aggressively styled, which makes sense since the Elantra Touring's marketing will focus on its sporting character. The usual list of standard and comfort equipment will be offered, of course, and you can read Hyundai's full release after the jump.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/08/f...antra-touring/



I got to say the it sucks that the touring will still have the same 2.0 but with electronic power steering you should notice a small increase in pick up since it does not have the p/s pulley, also we all know its getting a realiable engine that you dont have to worry much if it going to have problems and aftermarket parts will be available upon release.
geting a sport tunned suspension sounds great too, probably a suspension similar to the accent or tiburon.
its not a bad looking car, the grill looks similar to a newer civic but the bumper looks just like it came of a mazda 3. with the word out that the US model will look more agressive just makes me more exited to see how far hyundai will go in 2009.

[golfino]

It is the I30

http://www.leftlanenews.com/hyundai-...an-design.html

[RedScorp]

When comparing the Elantra Hatch to the Sedan, I think I read somewhere like a year ago that the hatch was 200 lbs. heavier than the sedan. If they are making the hatch even bigger, with still the same engine size, it's just going to be a larger car that looks nice but without the get-up-and-go. Now if they were to put in a factory turbo, then we'd be talkin'!

[Matrixloader]

its no different than toyota's corolla and matrix with the same engine, the matrix is heavier.

[NUT03]

I like it, but more power is badly needed,also take a look at the headlights,is it just me? or is hyundai coming with factory Angel eyes?

[only1db]

i like it...the front is very veracruz like...the interior should be very nice as well...hyundai has come a long way!

[SuperGLS]

That sketch looks promising.

It is the I30

http://www.leftlanenews.com/hyundai-...an-design.html

Left Lane seems to think it'll be based on the i30 wagon like we previously thought and not the i30 hatchback.

I like it, but more power is badly needed,also take a look at the headlights,is it just me? or is hyundai coming with factory Angel eyes?

It's just you.

[RedScorp]

its no different than toyota's corolla and matrix with the same engine, the matrix is heavier.

And since I live in So Cal...Toyota's premier market, the Matrix tanked. You simply don't see them often at all.

[cclngthr]

I wonder if the suspension is the same as the HD sedan?

[joph09]

it's only a matter of time till they upgrade the engine in new elantra's, if I remember correctly from somewhere one here it was said that there wasn't going to be an elantra 5 door in North America, and look it's coming here....unless i'm a crazy old man that i'm totally wrong on that

[jh0n]

Yuck.

[SuperGLS]

Yuck.

You don't like the i30 or you don't like the details on the Elantra Touring?

[Doohickie]

As long as we get the hatch (and not the wagon!) it will be a good thing.

[cobase]

I think it's great - we have a GT again! I kind of wish they offered the 2.4L as an option, but I bet they won't. It's the European design philosophy here - practical body style, sporty handling, more features, little engine. It's OK really, I mean gas is not getting much cheaper. How about a turbodiesel, Hyundai?

As far as styling, the i30 is pretty good from the B-pillar forward. I think the hatchback is too short; the wagon's rear overhang looks better, IMO. The rear still needs some design changes to be less bland... in general, edgier, please.

[babot]

I wonder if the suspension is the same as the HD sedan?

People who did test drive i30s told that i30 has much stiffer springs compared to HD. Also, Somebody who test drove an i30 (4-auto, 1.6L) on a track told that it has better handling than HD and XD-5dr. So it should be different.

[jh0n]

You don't like the i30 or you don't like the details on the Elantra Touring?

I don`t like either really, James. The HD just disappears into the crowd for me, the styling is just so generic I need to see the H badge to tell wtf it is.

[Pete03GLS]

ehh i cant decide.... i like the front, but hate the rear....