Hyundai announces 2013 Elantra changes

HYUNDAI ANNOUNCES EXCITING MODEL YEAR CHANGES FOR 2013 ELANTRA
COSTA MESA., Mar. 23, 2012 – Elantra, the 2012 North American Car of the Year and one of the hottest selling cars in the country, will continue its record setting pace with changes for the 2013 model year. On sale now, the 2013 Elantra GLS and Limited lineups will further delight shoppers with new standard and optional equipment.

The 2013 Elantra GLS M/T now comes with the same level of equipment as the 2012 Elantra GLS M/T with Comfort Package. For shoppers, this means the Elantra GLS M/T now comes standard with air-conditioning, 16- versus 15-inch wheels, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel and solar glass with windshield shade band. Heated front seats are also now included on the high volume GLS A/T Preferred Package.

Elantra Limited adds a standard power driver’s seat with power lumbar support and an available Dual Automatic Temperature Control with Clean Air Ionizer and Auto Defog System as part of the Limited Technology Package.

NEW EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2013 ELANTRA

• The GLS M/T base model has been upgraded to include air conditioning, cruise control, 16-inch steel wheels, telescopic steering wheel and solar glass with windshield shade band (2012MY M/T Comfort Package)
• Heated front seats have been added to the GLS A/T Preferred Package
• Power driver seat with lumbar support has been added as a standard feature to the Limited trim
• Dual automatic temperature control has been added to the Limited Technology Package
• Atlantic Blue has been added the color palette

Elantra continues to deliver an EPA certified 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, producing a highway-only driving range of up to 500 miles. Entering the third model year of sales, no other competitor has yet to offer 40 mpg highway standard for all trim levels. Led by Elantra, sales of Hyundai 40 mpg models (Accent, Veloster, Elantra, Sonata Hybrid) have made Hyundai number one in fuel economy and CO2 emissions in America by topping the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy rankings for the 2010 model year, beating out traditional leaders Honda and Toyota. No automaker scored higher than Hyundai. This is the second time Hyundai has led in both categories, having achieved this distinction previously for the 2008 model year.

The EPA 2011 Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends Report identified Hyundai as the top 2010 brand with an adjusted fuel economy rating of 27.0 miles per gallon. In addition to being named the most fuel efficient brand, Hyundai also had the lowest fleet-wide adjusted composite CO2 emissions performance (329 g/mi) for the 2010 model year.

The EPA 2011 Trends Report also indicates that preliminary 2011 model year values suggest that Hyundai will maintain its fuel economy leadership. Forecasts show that Hyundai will achieve an adjusted fuel economy rating of 27.5 miles per gallon in the 2011 model year.

Fuel economy is the primary reason for purchasing a new car in the compact segment, especially with gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon in many areas of the U.S. Due to rising fuel costs, more than 60 percent of compact car buyers are downsizing for better fuel efficiency with many of these buyers choosing highly contented vehicles.

Elantra also leads its segment in residual value having won the ALG Residual Value Award in the Compact Car segment for the second year in a row.