The first time we were laid eyes on the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring was at the SEMA show last year. Adorned with a bizzare paint coat and a few other accessories, the new five-door variant of the automaker's compact Elantra did not receive much attention from the press or the public. Badged as the i30 CW in Europe, Hyundai hopes to cross-shop the consumers who would otherwise look at the Toyota Matrix, Dodge Caliber, and Mazda3.The production Elantra Touring, without the exterior eyesores, was unveiled for the first time at the 2008 Montreal International Autoshow today. Hyundai also celebrated its 25 years of selling cars in Canada at the launch. Acting as the indirect replacement of the Elantra Hatchback, the Elantra Touring boasts many class-leading features such as standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and the largest interior volume in its class. It will be powered by the same engine that propels its four-door variant, a 2.0L 141 horsepower 4-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, while a four-speed automatic is optional. The Elantra Touring also features a sport-tuned suspension (purely namesake), and a standard USB port alongside an AUX port. Other options include a leather-trimmed interior, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The Elantra Touring will reach showrooms in spring of 2008 as a 2009 model. Pricing should be announced closer to its launch date.
[Source: Hyundai Canada]
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