IV
FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2012
CLUTCH
THE MALAY MAIL
REVUP
The evolution of the Hyundai Elantra We have seen Hyundai cars on Malaysia roads for more than two decades already. Early Hyundai models to enter the market were simple vehicles like the Sonata, Pony and Elantra and they shared engineering technology with Mitsubishi. One of the more popular Hyundai cars has been the Elantra. This mid-sized family sedan has seen a few generations on sale with success. In a few weeks time the Elantra nameplate in Malaysia will take a huge leap forward when the latest Elantra is launched this February. Hyundai Sime Darby will launch the all new Elantra which has already taken the global market by storm. Winning a string of North American and European awards in design, fuel efficiency, quality, drive, dynamics and even space, this Elantra will be a sure winner in the
Malaysian market. Meanwhile, let us give you some historical background on the Elantra. The first generation Hyundai Elantra was introduced in 1990. It was powered by a Mitsubishi-designed 1.6L (1596 cc) Straight-4 engine. This engine was capable of producing 113 horsepower at 6,000rpm. Average fuel consumption for a city drive was recorded at 10.7L/100km. In 1995, the Elantra evolved in its design, from a squarish look to a sleeker and curvier front and back. The second-generation Elantra came in two forms; the sedan and the station wagon. In Korea, the sedan was called the Hyundai Avante while the station wagon was called the Avante Touring. In Malaysia, only the Hyundai Elantra sedan was made available. The Elantra was sold with a 1.6L Beta DOHC engine pro-
IN MOTION: (From top) The first Hyundai Elantra in 1990, the 1995 and 2000 variant; MAIN PIX: The new Elantra continues the Elantra legacy of offering class-leading performance
NEW SENSATION: The latest Elantra (right) will be launched in Malaysia this February
ducing 116 horsepower and the 1.8L Beta DOHC I4 engine producing 128 horsepower. In 2000, the third-generation Elantra was launched with a refreshed look. It came with standard front and frontside airbags, air conditioning, power locks, power windows, and power steering. There were 1.6L, 1.8L and 2.0L petrol engines. A redesigned HD Elantra sedan debuted at the 2006 New York Auto Show makes it the fourth generation Elantra. In North America, the Elantra also offered the most interior room in its class. The engine lineup includes 1.6L Gamma and 2.0L Beta II petrol inline four engines, and a 1.6L turbi diesel inline-four. Only the 2.0L engine is offered in North America.
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 fuel All engines feature improved fuel economy over previous versions. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard and a four-speed auto 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
CONSISTENT PERFORMER: The Elantra 2011’s sophisticated styling has been impressively upgraded for the latest Elantra
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. The birth of the fifth-generation MD Elantra in 2010 took the world by storm with its great looks and smart features. The MD Elantra’s styling, power output, fuelefficiency, comfort and safety features have been all upgraded. Projecting a sportier and
even more progressive image than its predecessor, the allnew compact sedan Elantra will continue its successful tradition of offering classleading performance and fuel efficiency, thanks to its cutting-edge technology and powertrain. Having its roots in Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy that aims to reflect sophistication and dynamic lines into the shape of vehicles, Hyundai applied a specific design concept called “Wind Craft” to the new Elantra, evoking a piece of sculp-