Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra in South Korea, is a compact car from Hyundai of South Korea launched in October 1990 for the 1991 model year, and now in its fifth generation. The Elantra was formerly marketed as the Lantra in Australia and some European markets. In Australia, this was due to the similarly named Mitsubishi Magna Elante model. This gave rise to disagreement from other motor manufacturers, and the name was standardized as "Elantra" worldwide in 2001 (with the exception being Korea and Malaysia still selling under the name "Avante"). Launched in 1990 , the Elantra (codename J1) received a mid-term facelift in 1993. The Elantra was powered by a Mitsubishi-designed 1.6 L (1596 cc) straight-4 This DOHC 16-valve 1.6 L unit produced 113 hp (84 kW) at 6000 rpm and could push the Elantra to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 9.5 seconds. The quarter-mile (0.4 km) run took 17.1 seconds and produced 80 mph (129 km/h). Top speed was 116 mph (187 km/h). The Elantra got 22 mpg[clarification needed](10.7 L/100 km) in the city cycle. Starting in 1993 there was also a Mitsubishi-designed 1.8 L (1836 cc) straight-4 engine available the 1.8L unit that produced 124 hp (99 kW) at 6000 rpm. Launched in 1995, the second generation (codename J2) was offered as a sedan and station wagon. It was sold in the Korean market as the Avante in sedan form and Avante Touring in station wagon bodystyle. Between 1996 and 1998, the Elantra was marketed as the Bimantara Nenggala (1.8 litre petrol) in Indonesia. (The Cakra (1.5 litre petrol) was based on the Accent (X3).)

An all-new model (codename XD) was launched in 2000. The wagon was dropped in favor of a five-door hatchback. Starting in 2001, all American models came with standard front and front side airbags, air conditioning, power locks, power windows and power steering. This simplified dealer inventories and repairs and also sought to improve Hyundai's image of 'value' cars. In 2003, the Elantra received a facelift for all models (codename XD2). The facelift gave the Elantra new headlights and taillights, a new grille, new front and rear bumpers, a refreshed hood and trunk, and a refreshed dashboard. A redesigned Elantra sedan (designated HD) debuted at the 2006 New York Auto Show for model year 2007. In North America, the Elantra also offers the most interior room in its class, leading the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to classify it as a mid-size car. Beijing Hyundai launched a redesigned Elantra called the "Hyundai Elantra Yue Dong" for the Chinese market with an updated exterior. The engine lineup includes 1.6- Gamma and 2.0-liter Beta II gasoline inline-four engines, and a 1.6-liter turbodiesel inline-four. Only the 2.0-liter engine is offered in North America. All engines feature improved fuel economy over previous versions. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a four-speed automatic is optional. Hyundai began producing the Avante "LPI Hybrid" and it was launched in the South Korean domestic market in July 2009. The Avante LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injected) is the world's first hybrid electric vehicle to be powered by an internal combustion engine built to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a fuel. The Hyundai Avante LPI is a mild hybrid and the first hybrid to adopt advanced lithium polymer (Li–Poly) batteries.

Hyundai offers a Hyundai i30 wagon in the US and Canada marketed as the "Elantra Touring". Elsewhere, the same vehicle is marketed as the Hyundai i30cw.The fifth generation Avante, codenamed "MD", debuted at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show in April 2010. It features a 1.6L gasoline direct-injection engine, producing 103 kW (138 hp) and 167 Nm (123 lb-ft) torque, mated to a new 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission. The design continues Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" styling theme first seen in the 2011 Sonata. The new model went on sale in August 2010 in South Korea, and is expected to begin selling between end of 2010 and early 2011 as a 2011 model. The US version of the fifth generation Elantra debuted at 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. It is powered by a new 1.8L Nu engine producing 148 hp (145 hp-PZEV) and 131 lb-ft (130 lb-ft-PZEV). EPA estimates for the new Elantra are 29 mpg-US (8.1 L/100 km; 35 mpg-imp) in the city and 40 mpg-US (5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg-imp) on the highway. The fuel economy was increased with a low coefficient of drag, just 0.28. The Elantra will be available in two trim levels-GLS and Limited. Some of the premium features will be heated front and rear seats, proximity key entry with electronic push button start with immobilizer, navigation with touch screen. Mitsubishi Motors of Australia complained that Elantra was too close to its Elante trim level (last used on the 1991 Magna), and Lotus (as well as Kia) in the UK and Europe suggested it was too close to its Elan name, and its Kia counterpart. By 2001, both the Elan and the Elante had ceased production but the Avante's renaming remained necessary as Audi owned the Avant name in Europe.

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