Hyundai Elantra is all set to get a facelift in India. Though the sedan has been photographed many times under camouflage while being tested on Indian roads this year, Hyundai did not showcase the facelifted version of the Elantra that made its global debut in Korea in September 2015, hinting at a launch next year. However, emerging reports indicate that the Korean car maker has fast-tracked the launch of the sedan.
According to NDTV Auto, the 2016 Elantra facelift will enter the India market in the first week of September. In its latest avatar, the Elantra takes a deviation from the Fluidic design philosophy of Hyundai, and sports an edgy look.
It gets a prominent hexagonal grille in chrome, flanked by a pair of swept-back headlamps. The new Elantra features prominent character lines and new alloy wheel design on the sides while the rear-end gets wide LED taillights. The 2016 Elantra will feature a new steering wheel and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation. Seats are also expected to have a more premium feel.
Powering the Elantra in India are likely to be three engines — a 1.6-litre VGT CRDi diesel motor, a 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine and a 2.0-litre MPi petrol engine. There is no information about the transmission of the Elantra in India as of now. However, in the international markets, the petrol engines come paired with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, while the diesel one gets a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The car will measure 4610mm in length, 1800mm in width, and 1450mm in height and have a wheelbase of 2700mm.
The Elantra is expected to come with a price tag in the range of Rs. 13 lakh to Rs. 17 lakh. When launched, the new Elantra will rival Toyota Corolla Altis, Volkswagen Jetta, Skoda Octavia and Chevrolet Cruze.