New Hyundai Elantra sedan begins testing in India, spotted

South Korean auto-major Hyundai has begun testing its new Elantra on Indian roads. A prototype of the 2016 Elantra has been spied undergoing testing in Chennai, consolidating the belief that the new avatar of the sedan will be launched in the country in 2016.

A member of TeamBHP forum has shared an image of what is believed to be the new Elantra. The prototype spotted was seen hiding under a significant amount of camouflage, thus not revealing any key detail of the model. The New Elantra sedan, already on sale in few international markets, is likely to be offered with three engine options in India — a 1.6-litre VGT CRDi diesel motor, a 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine and a 2.0-litre MPi petrol engine. Globally, the petrol engines come paired with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, while the diesel gets a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Unveiled in Korea in September 2015, the new Elantra measures 4,570mm in length, 1,800mm in width, 1,440mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,700mm. It flaunts a prominent hexagonal grille flanked by a pair of swept-back headlamps, and features prominent character lines and wide LED taillights in the rear. It is expected to come with features like a three-spoke steering wheel and a touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation.

Rumours are rife that the model could be launched in India by mid-2016 and is likely to fall in the price brackets of Rs. 13 lakh to Rs. 17 lakh.

[1 lakh = 100,000 | 1 crore = 10 million | 100 crore = 1 billion]