HiTLeR Posted September 23, 2020 Posted September 23, 2020 Hyundai chose St. Patrick's Day for the world premiere of its all-new 2021 Elantra, a compact seventh-generation 4-door sedan that competes with the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Nissan Sentra. At the West Hollywood event streamed live without an audience because of coronavirus concerns, Brian Smith, COO of Hyundai Motor America, said: “While some manufacturers no longer see the value in the car side of the business, we're doubling down by offering an all-new model with both gas and hybrid powertrains. We’ve sold more than 3.4 million Elantras here in the U.S.A. and more than 13.8 million worldwide, and the new, captivating look is going to bring excitement to a whole new generation of buyers. Then once inside, they’re going to love all of the progressive features. ” Dramatic styling Hyundai uses the words “Parametric dynamics” to describe the looks of the new 2021 Elantra. While we’re not sure what that means, the new Elantra looks closely related to the new Sonata. Luc Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group's Chief Design Officer, explains: “Like the first generation, the seventh-generation Elantra has a bold character. The fresh aesthetic comes through the unconventional lines and a face that broke a taboo in automotive design. The new Elantra sports a wide stance that features geometric crystal and divided body surfaces for a strong emotional response from the customers. Donckerwolke adds, “Having three lines meet at one point is a main ingredient in making the colorful parametric dynamics of Elantra. Using this design element was a daring challenge, which has been avoided in car design, marking Elantra's 'disrupter-spirit.' Front design highlights include a jewel-patterned cascading grille with integrated headlamps and turn signals, while the side of the new Elantra features some triangular sculpting and a bold edge running from front to rear. In back, a wide horizontal line extends the width of the trunk, and showcases H-shaped taillights and a wing-type lower bumper. In back, the rear glass features a black deck that accentuates the new Elantra's coupe-like look. New Elantra is lower, wider To achieve the look of a 4-door coupe, Hyundai said it needed to make the new Elantra a bit longer, lower and wider than the outgoing model. Specifically, the 2021 Elantra is 2.2 inches longer and one inch wider than before, with a wheelbase extended by 0.8 inches. The overall height drops 0.8 inches, and the cowl, the area where the windshield meets the hood, moves back almost two inches. Although these changes dramatically affect the appearance of the Elantra, most key dimensions have, in fact, increased. The new Elantra has 0.3 inches more front headroom than before, while rear headroom has stayed the same. Most significantly, rear legroom has increased by 2.3 inches, and the added width of the vehicle translates to fractionally better shoulder room front and rear. The trunk, at 14.2 cubic feet, is 0.2 cu. ft. than before, but it's still 8-percent larger than the Toyota Corolla. What engine powers the 2021 Hyundai Elantra? The 2021 Hyundai Elantra uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that emphasizes fuel economy. This powerplant benefits from the Atkinson Cycle and produces 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 132 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. EPA fuel economy is not available. Hyundai expects the Elantra to outperform the old model and be best in class on mpg. The Intelligent Variable Transmission, Hyundai's name for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) helps fuel economy. This transmission, which has simulated gearshifts like those of a conventional automatic gearbox, employs a wide-ratio pulley system. This setup provides a wide ratio than the Elantra's rivals. This means better fuel economy at higher ratios and peppier acceleration. Its chain-belt design is said to be 1.2 percent more efficient than a standard CVT belt. Inside the new 2021 Elantra The 2021 Elantra interior, with low and wide structures extending from the doors to the center console, envelops the driver like an airplane cockpit while remaining quite roomy. Other notable characteristics include a lower seating position, slim dash vents and low door handles. The high center console and two 10.25-inch digital displays connect under one piece of glass, enhancing the car's futuristic look. Also noteworthy: The new Elantra has a unique cornering grab handle for the front passenger and 64 shades of available ambient lighting. Sporty (and safe) platform Using Hyundai’s K3 third-generation compact vehicle platform, the 2021 Elantra weighs less and is stronger than the previous model. This helps with fuel economy. A low center of gravity contributes to improved handling. The Elantra suspension, which features a multilink rear, is tuned to be taut yet comfortable, with minimal body roll and excellent impact absorption. Also, the mounting points for the suspension are stronger. The engine bay is designed to accept either a conventional or hybrid powertrain. The 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid An Elantra Hybrid model joins the Hyundai lineup for 2021, to compete with the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. The 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid features a direct-injected 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder that teams with a 32-kilowatt electric motor. That motor draws from a 1.32-kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery mounted beneath the rear seat. Total system output, with the gas engine and electric motor combined, is 139 horsepower and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. These numbers suggest the hybrid version likely will be the quickest and most efficient Elantra you can buy. The Elantra Hybrid's engine connects to Hyundai's 6-speed automatic transmission, This quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox should offer a more engaging experience than the CVT found in the Corolla Hybrid. While Hyundai says the new Elantra Hybrid has an electric-only driving mode that delivers instantaneous torque at low speeds, the motor applies additional assist at higher speeds. Hyundai projects EPA Combined fuel economy of more than 50 mpg. This means the hybrid Elantra may deliver numbers close to the Corolla Hybrid's 52 mpg. The 2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line If you want more performance out a compact sedan, there is a new option from Hyundai. Joining the Elantra lineup for the first time is the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line. This sedan is powered by a 201-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, backed by your choice of a 6-speed manual or 7-speed double-clutch automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The N Line also comes with a drive mode selector system. The Elantra N Line's suspension is stiffer, improving handling, and the N Line rides on 18-inch alloy wheels. This version of the Elantra comes with larger brake rotors. There are some styling differences, as the Elantra N Line uses a unique grille, side skirts, and black wheel wells. It also has functional air curtains in the lower fascia. In back, there’s an integrated spoiler and a dual exhaust with chrome tips. Inside, N Line drivers will find a leather-wrapped, perforated steering wheel with metal spokes - unique to the N Line - plus sport seats, alloy pedals, and other N-specific cues. The Hyundai Elantra N Line is set to go on sale in December 2020. Standard SmartSense safety features The new Elantra loads up with standard safety features, most grouped under the company’s SmartSense suite of assists. Besides automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection) and lane-keeping assist, the new Elantra is equipped with automatic lane centering. It also has high-beam assist for oncoming traffic. Blind-spot warning, together with rear cross-traffic assist, is available only as an option. Other safety options of note include adaptive cruise control and Safe Exit Warning. This system sounds an alert if a vehicle is approaching the Elantra from behind when passengers would normally be exiting the car. Interior features Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (no cables needed!) Are standard equipment together with HD radio and an 8-inch color audio display. Bluetooth and steering wheel audio controls also are standard fare, along with a drive mode selector. Optional interior features include the 10.25-inch digital screens for the instruments and infotainment system, plus the BlueLink Connected Car System with three years of complimentary service. Wireless smartphone charging also is available. An optional 8-speaker premium sound system from Bose features a woofer on the rear deck. Class of 2021: The New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks and SUVs Additionally, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra can be ordered with a voice-recognition system that’s much better at understanding commands (i.e. “Find a Starbucks.”) And responding quickly. The Android smartphone-based Hyundai Digital Key is also available. The feature allows the Elantra to be unlocked, started and driven without a physical key. How much does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra cost? The new 2021 Hyundai Elantra goes on sale late in 2020, so it’s too early to have exact pricing. The current Hyundai Elantra starts at $ 19,150, with a delivery charge of $ 955. The top Elantra model is the Sport trim, which retails for $ 24,000 plus delivery. With compact sedans being such a competitive and price-sensitive segment, we expect the 2021 Elantra to be priced a bit higher, but not by much. Where is the 2021 Hyundai Elantra built? The 2021 Hyundai Elantra will be built in two places: Ulsan, South Korea, and Montgomery, Alabama. Production begins this fall.
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