Hyundai Motor has announced that one model in its 2010 Elantra lineup, the all-new Blue, will get 35 miles to the gallon in highway driving. That puts it in line with manual-transmission versions of the competing Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus and 1 mpg ahead of the manual Honda Civic, all of which are more than $1,000 pricier than the Hyundai.Compared with the 2009 Elantra GLS, the 2010 Elantra Blue is up from 24/33 mpg in 2009 to 26/35 mpg this year, an 8 percent improvement in town and 6 percent on the highway. Hyundai has fitted it with a "smart" alternator management system, lower-friction engine parts, revised transmission gear ratios and engine calibration changes, along with a shift indicator, to help achieve the better fuel-economy numbers. The Elantra lineup gets a 2.0-liter engine making 138 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque.
The Elantra receives minor changes for the 2010 model year including USB input, a new “waterfall” grille, rear chrome trim, chrome interior accents and a monotone black interior color choice for SE models.The 2010 Elantra Blue, with a five-speed manual transmission, will be priced at $14,865. The GLS model with automatic transmission starts at $17,615, and the top SE model with automatic goes for $18,565. Prices include a $720 destination charge.
[Source: Hyundai]
PRESS RELEASE: ELANTRA CRUISES INTO 2010 WITH 35 MILES PER GALLON BLUE MODEL
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., - The award-winning Elantra enters 2010 an improved weapon against gas prices, with the all-new Blue model achieving an estimated highway fuel economy rating of 35 miles per gallon. Smart engineering enhancements to the rest of the 2010 Elantra lineup improve fuel efficiency by up to four percent. These new fuel economy numbers give Elantra an advantage in price-per-MPG ratio, making it an even stronger value for 2010.
To make the Elantra “Blue,” engineers added a “smart” alternator management system, lower friction engine components, revised transmission gear ratios, engine calibration changes and a shift indicator to last year’s Elantra GLS manual. This new high mileage Elantra will be indentified with unique “Blue” badging. From the Blue edition, the rest of the Elantra line receives its lower friction engine components, “smart” alternator management system and an improved lock-up torque converter to maximize fuel economy at highway speeds.
Elantra also returns this year with the convenience of Hyundai’s iPod®/USB auxiliary inputs, a new “waterfall” grille, rear chrome trim, chrome interior accents and a monotone black interior color choice for SE models.
Music lovers will welcome the 2010 Elantra’s inclusion of XM Satellite Radio and standard auxiliary input jacks (3.5 mm mini-jack and USB input) to accommodate and charge audio devices such as iPods. When an iPod or flash drive is connected through the USB port, not only does it play music through the vehicle’s six-speaker audio system, but it also charges the iPod. The new audio display included with this system also allows both driver and passengers to easily view four lines of song/artist/title information and control the music from the audio head unit rather than from the iPod itself.
NEW EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2010
High mileage, low price “Blue” edition
Improved EPA fuel economy estimates for all other models
Hyundai’s iPod/USB auxiliary inputs
Waterfall chrome grille
Rear chrome trim
Chrome interior accents
Black interior color choice
Still standard on the Elantra SE, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is the industry’s most significant new safety technology since the seatbelt. ESC compares the driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual response, then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help correct understeer or oversteer. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) research, if all vehicles were equipped with ESC, as many as 10,000 of the 34,000 fatal passenger vehicle crashes that occur each year could be prevented.
In addition, the Elantra has also received a five-star frontal and four-star side crash rating in the compact passenger car segment from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and earned a “Good” rating in the IIHS’s frontal offset test, the Institute’s highest rating. Finally, the addition of a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System, which alerts drivers if tires are under inflated through an illuminated readout on the dash, rounds out Elantra’s safety features to make it one of the smartest purchases in the compact class.
STANDARD SAFETY fEATURES
All Elantras 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 IIHS. In addition the Elantra SE comes with standard ESC, Traction Control and Brake Assist.
Accident avoidance technologies start with Elantra’s chassis, which features a fully independent suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars and motor-driven rack-and-pinion steering. Elantra’s safety is taken even further with the addition of ESC. 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 during braking in slippery conditions and in emergency maneuvers. EBD is integrated into the ABS, automatically adjusting the front-to-rear braking force based on the vehicle’s loading conditions. Brake Assist is standard on the Elantra SE along with ESC. Brake Assist detects panic braking situations (by sensing brake pedal application speed) and increases braking force to shorten overall stopping distances and help avoid accidents. Four-wheel disc brakes are a key leadership feature for the segment, as traditional rear drum brakes are still found on the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla 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 certain rear collisions and are highly recommended by safety organizations such as the IIHS.
All seating positions feature three-point seatbelts and adjustable head restraints. The shingle-style, rear-seat head restraints are designed to improve visibility when there are no rear-seat passengers, while protecting these passengers when in the vehicle. There is also an energy absorbing steering column, 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 control the deformation of the hood in a frontal collision.
EXPRESSIVE AND CONFIDENT DESIGN
Elantra’s front appearance and rising beltline create a premium statement. For added distinction and assertiveness, chrome headlight bezels, a new waterfall chrome grille and chrome rear trim are standard. The Elantra profile features sculpted surfaces, an expressive bodyside character line that is shared with other Hyundai models and neatly integrated bodycolor door handles and mirrors. The rear styling complements the front design with tail lights that echo the theme of the headlights and nicely complete the bodyside character line.
Elantra has a low coefficient of drag to improve fuel efficiency at highway speeds and reduce interior noise. Elantra’s coefficient of drag is 0.32, which is significantly “more slippery” than the 2008 Nissan Sentra’s 0.35.[1]
A “CLASS ABOVE” INTERIOR – MORE ROOM THAN CIVIC, COROLLA AND TL
Elantra is truly a “class above” Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla when it comes to interior room. Elantra is so roomy the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies it as a mid-size car, not a compact car like Civic and Corolla. Elantra’s total interior volume of 112.1 cubic feet easily beats the 2010 Civic sedan (102.9 cu. ft.), 2010 Nissan Sentra (110.8 cu. ft.) and 2010 Corolla (104.3 cu. ft.), and, surprisingly, even surpasses the interior volume of the near-luxury Acura TL (110.4 cu. ft.). Elantra trunk volume at 14.2 cubic feet also beats Civic and Corolla.
Thoughtful design touches bring harmony and substance to Elantra’s interior. The dashboard slopes downward to give a feeling of more space and to promote greater visibility, while offering a modern look. The contrasting beige or gray two-tone color scheme and now monotone black color scheme, combined with new chrome finishes, complement the sophisticated and upscale Elantra exterior styling. Other optional interior amenities include heated seats as well as steering-wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls; the steering column also tilts for improved control. Cool blue back lighting adds a modern, easy-to-read ambience at night.
The center console features dual level storage compartments and a comfortable armrest. An overhead sunglass holder has built-in map lights, while pockets are integrated into the front door panels, and 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, dual front cupholders and rear center armrest with cupholders round out the interior appointments and provide everyday utility.
The Elantra’s comfortable and versatile seating includes a multi-adjustable driver’s seat, including variable height settings, adjustable head restraints and a standard 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback to accommodate larger cargo.
Conveniences like a standard cabin air filter, rear window defroster, tilt steering wheel, tinted glass, two-speed variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist function, power heated mirrors, power windows and door locks, and remote keyless entry with alarm and trunk release add to Elantra’s remarkable value position. XM Satellite Radio is a standard feature on all Elantra audio systems.
Option packages enhance this value. The Elantra Blue Comfort Package offers a 172-watt AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers and iPod/USB auxiliary inputs. Also included is air conditioning and cruise control.
SUPER CLEAN ENGINE
Thanks to advanced clean engine technology, most Elantras sold in California, Oregon and several Northeast states are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) by the EPA. The PZEV Elantra is as clean as many hybrid electric vehicles and helps Hyundai meet its environmental commitments. Outside of these “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 the Elantra. This sophisticated 16-valve powerplant employs Dual Over Head Camshafts (DOHC) and Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) for 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. PZEV 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 Elantra Blue’s estimated mileage is 26 mpg city, and 35 mpg highway. With the four-speed automatic transmission found in the Elantra GLS and SE, the estimated rating is 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Elantra delivers a comfortable ride and responsive handling, thanks to a front MacPherson strut suspension with coil springs and gas shock absorbers, and a multi-link independent suspension with twin-tube gas shock absorbers in the rear. A 23.0 mm diameter front stabilizer bar and 17.0 mm rear stabilizer bar help reduce body roll when cornering. The SE-tuned suspension features 18 percent stiffer front spring rate, 24 percent stiffer rear spring rate and unique shock valving. The SE suspension also has a 24.0 mm diameter front stabilizer bar and 20.0 mm rear stabilizer bar for even better cornering. To enhance stopping power, the front and rear brakes are generously sized at 10.8 inches (275 mm) for the front and 10.3 inches (262 mm) for the rear.
Stiffer body construction allows Hyundai chassis engineers to tune the suspension components for precise steering and handling together with a well-controlled, yet comfortable ride. Additionally, a rigid body structure and the vehicle’s optimized door sealing strategy contribute to reduce road noise (two decibels below a comparably equipped Honda Civic -- based on internal testing).
Advanced, electric motor-driven, engine-speed-sensing rack-and-pinion power steering offers many benefits, including lighter weight and reduced engine drag for higher fuel economy, while delivering a more precise steering feel. The Elantra steering system also offers excellent parking and turning maneuverability. At 33.9 feet, Elantra’s turning diameter is better than Civic’s 34.8 feet, Corolla’s 36.3 feet, and Mazda3 sedan’s 34.2 feet. The SE’s steering is tuned for even quicker response and feel.
THREE TRIM LEVELS
The Elantra is now available in three distinctive trim levels with the addition of Blue to the line up.
ELANTRA BLUE – THE PERFECT COMPACT CAR
In keeping with Hyundai’s Blue Drive strategy the Elantra “Blue” edition delivers outstanding fuel economy without adding thousands of dollars to the price. In fact, Elantra Blue is the lowest priced Elantra in the lineup. The Elantra Blue also practices Hyundai’s high-value approach to standard equipment. Elantra Blue has a remarkable array of desirable features for a model with an excellent price-per-MPG ratio. The Elantra delivers outstanding standard safety technologies in its segment, with six airbags, ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), active front head restraints and adjustable head restraints for all seating positions. A partial list of other standard features includes: power heated mirrors, power door locks, power windows with driver’s one-touch down, remote keyless entry with alarm and trunk release, variable intermittent windshield wipers, multiple storage areas, 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, tachometer, tinted windows, two 12V outlets and tilt steering wheel. Air conditioning, 172-watt AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with tweeters and in-glass antenna, iPod/USB auxiliary inputs and cruise control are available options as part of the Comfort Package.
ELANTRA GLS
The Elantra GLS takes all the equipment from the Elantra Blue equipped with the Comfort Package and adds a four-speed automatic transimission, dual front illuminated vanity mirrors with sunvisor extensions, fog lights and a windshield shade band. The only option is a power sunroof.
ELANTRA SE – ADDING A SPORTY FLAVOR
The sport-oriented SE adds all the equipment in the GLS plus ESC with Traction Control and Brake Assist, 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/55R16 tires, sport-tuned steering and suspension, leather shift knob, telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel audio controls, B&M shifter and trip computer. The SE Premium Package adds a power sunroof and heated front seats.
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 this coverage.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
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 790 dealerships nationwide.
