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The all-new 2007 Elantra is the seventh
model from Hyundai in just 24 months, giving Hyundai the freshest lineup
in the industry. All new from headlight to taillight, Elantra brings more
refinement, safety and interior space to compact car shoppers.
“The all-new Elantra delivers more interior space than Civic or
Corolla – even more space than Acura TL – and a level of ride
and handling refinement that’s both agile and comfortable,”
said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning,
Hyundai Motor America. “Add in great standard safety features like
six airbags, anti-lock brakes and active front head restraints and our
assertive new design, and it’s clear that Elantra offers unbeatable
value.”
24/7 PROGRAM
On sale in fall 2006, the Elantra marks Hyundai’s seventh all-new
product in 24 months, rounding out the “24/7” product plan
that also includes the Tucson, Sonata, Accent, Azera, Santa Fe and Entourage.
From the flagship, full-size Azera, to the entry-level Accent, each of
these models offers unsurpassed standard safety technologies in their
segments, and each reflects the Hyundai brand’s refined and confident
nature.
UNSURPASSED STANDARD SAFETY IN THE COMPACT SEGMENT
All Elantra models have six standard airbags, including two advanced front
airbags, two front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and two side curtain
airbags protecting front- and rear-seat outboard passengers. The combination
of side and curtain airbags, which help protect the head and body during
side impacts, can reduce fatalities by more than 45 percent according
to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Side-impact airbags
are expensive options on competitors such as Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus,
and are not available on the Chevrolet Cobalt. Side curtain air protection
is optional on Corolla and Cobalt and still not available on Focus.
Accident avoidance technologies start with Elantra’s all-new chassis
featuring fully independent suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars
and motor-driven rack-and-pinion steering. The Elantra’s standard
power braking system has front and rear discs with a four-sensor, four-channel
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that includes Electronic Brake-force Distribution
(EBD). ABS helps the driver maintain vehicle steering control in slippery
conditions and in emergency maneuvers. EBD is integrated into the ABS,
automatically adjusting the braking force to front and rear axles based
on the vehicle loading conditions. Four-wheel disc brakes are a key leadership
feature for the segment, as traditional rear drum brakes are still found
on the 2006 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt.
Elantra’s standard front-seat active head restraints help prevent
whiplash by automatically reducing the space between a front occupant’s
head and the head restraint during a rear collision and are highly recommended
by safety-focused organizations such as the IIHS.
All seating positions feature three-point seatbelts and adjustable head
restraints. The shingle-style rear-seat head restraints improve visibility
when there are no rear seat passengers, while protecting these passengers
when they are in the vehicle. There’s also an energy absorbing steering
column and front seatbelt pretensioners and adjustable-height shoulder
anchors. A Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system in the
rear-seat area provides secure attachment for child seats.
In low-speed impacts, the Elantra’s five-mph front and rear bumpers
help minimize damage. In higher-energy collisions, its steel unibody structure
is engineered to dissipate crash energy as its crumple zones deform, while
bodyside reinforcements help maintain the integrity of the passenger compartment.
Hood buckling creases and safety stops help to control the deformation
of the hood in a frontal collision.
EXPRESSIVE AND CONFIDENT DESIGN
Elantra continues the dramatic new styling resurgence introduced on the
all-new 2007 Santa Fe – refined and confident. This new theme resonates
in Elantra’s assertive front appearance, rising beltline, sculpted
body side and an overall lively appearance. For a more upscale appearance,
chrome headlight bezels and grille bars highlight Elantra’s assertive
face. The profile of Elantra features confidently sculpted surfaces, an
expressive bodyside character line that has a family resemblance to Azera
and a clean look with bodycolor door handles and mirrors. The rear styling
compliments the front design with taillamps echoing the theme of the headlamps,
and the cohesive look continues with a integrated bumper fascia and bodycolored
rear license plate garnish (chrome for Limited).
A “CLASS ABOVE” INTERIOR – MORE ROOM THAN ACURA TL
Elantra is wider and taller than its predecessor. Increasing the height
2.2 inches and moving the driver’s seating position up 1.8 inches
opens up the cabin for more room and flexibility. Two inches of added
width deliver more front and rear shoulder room as well. This repackaging
delivers a remarkably spacious interior – one that is truly a “class
above” Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla for interior room. Elantra
is so roomy the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies it as
a mid-size car, not a compact car like Civic and Corolla. With 97.9 cubic
feet of passenger room and 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space, the Elantra
has the most interior volume (passenger volume plus trunk space) for a
sedan in its class. Elantra’s total interior volume of 112.1 cubic
feet easily betters the 2006 Civic sedan (102.9 cu. ft.), 2007 Nissan
Sentra (110.8 cu.ft.) and 2006 Corolla (103.8 cu. ft.), and, surprisingly,
even surpasses the interior volume of the near-luxury Acura TL (110.4
cubic feet) sedan. Elantra’s trunk capacity also beats Civic and
Corolla. Its 14.2 cu. ft. of trunk volume is 18 percent larger than Civic
and five percent bigger than Corolla.
Thoughtful design touches bring harmony and substance to Elantra’s
interior. The dashboard slopes downward to give a feeling of more space
and greater visibility while offering an aesthetic shape. The contrasting
two-tone color schemes (available in beige and gray tones) combined with
metallic finishes match the more sophisticated and upscale exterior styling.
New levels of detail and craftsmanship are found throughout the interior.
Luxurious supple leather is available on Elantra, but cannot be found
on Civic. For the first time, heated seats are available. Another first,
Elantra also offers steering-wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls and
telescoping adjustment. Blue back lighting adds a youthful, but refined
ambience at night.
The center console features a two-level storage compartment and a comfortable
armrest. An overhead sunglasses holder has built-in map lights, and map
pockets are integrated into the front door panels. Seatback storage pockets
provide additional room for small items. Storage can also be found in
the dash, center stack and console. A convenient handbag strap holder
is sure to surprise and delight owners. Dual front cupholders and a rear
armrest with cupholders complete the interior.
The Elantra’s comfortable and versatile seating includes a multi-adjustable
driver’s seat with height adjustment, adjustable head restraints
and a 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback that makes it easy to accommodate
cargo.
Conveniences like standard cabin air filter, rear window defroster, tilt
steering wheel, tinted glass, two-speed variable intermittent windshield
wiper with mist function, dual vanity mirrors, power windows with driver’s
auto-down and illuminated switches, power heated mirrors, and power door
locks with remote keyless entry with alarm, panic, and trunk open make
the Elantra seem like it’s a class above its modest price point.
The high-volume Elantra GLS Preferred Package offers a 172-watt AM/FM/CD
audio system with six speakers and Hyundai’s first auxiliary jack,
which allows iPods® and other portable MP3 players to be connected
to the vehicle audio system. Also included are air conditioning, cruise
control, fog lights, windshield shade band, and dual front illuminated
vanity mirrors. XM satellite radio and in-glass antenna will be available
by the end of the year.
SUPER-CLEAN ENGINE
Many Elantras sold in California, Maine, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts
will score high on the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide to Green Cars and
be certified as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV). The SULEV Elantra
is as clean as many hybrid electric vehicles and helps Hyundai meet its
environmental commitments. According to the California Air Resources Board,
SULEV certified vehicles are 90% cleaner than the average new model year
vehicle. In fact, the 2007 Elantra is projected to earn Partial Zero Emission
Vehicle (PZEV) certification in California, which few models in the entire
automotive industry earn. Outside of the green states, the Elantra is
available in Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) configurations.
Hyundai’s advanced 2.0-liter in-line four-cylinder engine powers
Elantra. This sophisticated 16-valve powerplant employs an aluminum cylinder
head that features dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and Continuously Variable
Valve Timing (CVVT). The combination helps give the engine a very broad
power spread, coupled with high fuel efficiency and low emissions.
The ULEV variation is rated at 138 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 136 lb.-ft.
of torque at 4,600 rpm. SULEV engines are available only with a four-speed
automatic transmission, and are rated at 132 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and
133 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,600 rpm. The all-new Elantra is fuel efficient
with up to 36 mpg for manual or automatic transmission.
TWO TRANSMISSION CHOICES
The Elantra comes standard with a precise five-speed manual gearbox. A
smooth four-speed automatic with a new gated console-mounted floor shifter
is available as an option and includes an overdrive lock-up torque converter
for higher fuel economy at freeway speeds.
SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Elantra’s design team worked to solve the classic design tradeoffs
between interior roominess, agility and driving comfort. On one hand,
interior space and cargo room are critically important to a sedan in its
class; on the other hand, secure, responsive handling and good road isolation
are also priorities. The Elantra’s ride quality improves upon that
offered by Civic, Corolla, Focus and Cobalt. An advanced, motor-driven,
engine-speed-sensing rack-and-pinion power steering ensures the new Elantra
has a more agile driving feeling than the outgoing model, and key competitors.
Elantra delivers a comfortable ride and responsive handling thanks to
a front MacPherson strut suspension with coil springs and gas shock absorbers,
and multi-link suspension and twin-tube gas shock absorbers. A 23.0-mm
diameter front stabilizer bar and 17.0 mm rear stabilizer bar, which is
larger than its predecessor’s by 5.0 mm, helps reduce body roll
when cornering, and tunes the Elantra’s at-the-limit handling for
maximum predictability. To enhance stopping power, the front and rear
brakes are larger than its predecessor’s at 10.8 inches (275 mm)
for the front and 10.3 inches (262 mm) for the rear.
The 2007 Elantra body stiffness is up 49 percent from the outgoing model
and nine percent over Corolla. Significant increases in body stiffness
levels allowed Hyundai engineers to deliver a dynamic package that left
little to compromise during the shock and bushing tuning phases. The result
is precise steering and handling and a well- controlled, yet comfortable
ride. By improving body rigidity and applying an optimized door sealing
strategy, Hyundai engineers successfully reduced road noise two decibels
below a comparably equipped 2006 Honda Civic based on internal testing.
THREE TRIM LEVELS
The Elantra is available in three distinctive trim levels—GLS, SE
and Limited.
ELANTRA GLS – THE PERFECT COMPACT CAR
In keeping with Hyundai’s high-value approach to standard equipment,
the Elantra GLS has a remarkable array of desirable features. The Elantra
delivers standard safety technologies unsurpassed in its segment, with
six airbags, ABS with EBD, 4-wheel disc brakes, active front head restraints,
and adjustable head restraints for all seating positions. A partial list
of other standard features includes: power windows, power heated mirrors,
power door locks, remote keyless entry with alarm and trunk open, rear
center armrest with cupholders, intermittent windshield wipers, multiple
storage areas, 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, tachometer, tinted
windows, two 12-V outlets and tilt steering wheel. The Preferred Package
includes air conditioning, 172-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with tweeters
and auxiliary input jack, windshield shade band, fog lights, cruise control
and dual front illuminated vanity mirrors. The available Preferred + Sunroof
Package includes everything in the Preferred Package plus power sunroof.
ELANTRA SE – ADDING A SPORTY FLAVOR
The sport-oriented SE adds all the equipment in the GLS Preferred Package
plus a telescoping leather steering wheel with audio controls that features
seek, volume, and mode functions, leather shift knob, 16-inch alloy wheels
with P205/55HR16 tires, and trip computer. The only option is a Premium
Package that includes power sunroof and heated front seats. In addition
to the available gray and beige two-tone, the SE is also available in
a sporty monotone black interior.
ELANTRA LIMITED – LUXURY MEETS VALUE
The Limited trim takes the Elantra upscale by building on the SE equipment
with leather seating surfaces, leather door panel inserts, leather armrest
and heated front seats. A Sun and Sound package is available that combines
a power sunroof and a 220-watt premium audio system featuring AM/FM/6-CD
changer/MP3 with auxiliary input jack and an external amplifier.
WARRANTY
The all-new Hyundai Elantra lineup is protected by the Hyundai Advantage,
America’s Best Warranty™. Coverage includes five-year/60,000-mile
bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty,
and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage. In addition,
Elantra buyers receive 24-hour roadside assistance coverage at no extra
charge for five years (no mileage limit), which includes emergency towing,
lockout service and limited coverage for trip-interruption expenses. There
is no deductible on any of these coverages.
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a
subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed
throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and
serviced by more than 725 dealerships nationwide.
Note: Claims based on Autosource Inc. upper small car
segmentation
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