| Product Name: | Hyundai Elantra | | Category: | Cars | | Price: | Rs 797463 |
 THE FORMATIVE YEARS
To stimulate economic growth, the South Korean government formulated a detailed plan for the
development and manufacture of Korean cars by 1975. Four Korean companies: Hyundai, Daewoo,
Kia, and SSangyong accepted the challenge. Hyundai submitting a plan for a new plant with a
capacity of 80,000 Korean designed cars to be produced each year. Hyundai approached 26
firms in five countries to acquire the additional technologies required.
10 firms in Japan and Italy for car design
4 firms in Japan and the United States for stamping equipment
5 firms in the United Kingdom and Germany for casting and forging equipment
2 firms in Japan and the United Kingdom for engines
5 firms in the United States and United Kingdom for automotive parts
Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign firm was hired for styling and design while Mitsubishi was
selected for engine, transmission, rear axle, and casting technology. Hyundai contracted
with former British Leyland Motor Corp president, George Turnbull and six other British
technical experts to serve for a three year period for the development of Hyundai's first
indigenous model, the Pony.
Production began in 1975 and the Pony was officially released in 1976. After the contract
with the British experts ended in 1977, Hyundai hired moonlighting Japanese engineers to
solve remaining issues. With the eventual goal to export automobiles to the United States,
Hyundai released the Pony for testing, certification, and approval in Europe. Exports of
the Pony soon followed and the Pony subcompact was displayed at the 1978, 56th International
Automobile Expo in Brussels. That same year, Hyundai exported their 10,000th Pony.
RAPID EXPANSION AND GROWING INDEPENDENCE
In 1986 for the follow-on to the Ford Granada sedan, Hyundai rebadged the Mitsubishi
Debonair as the Hyundai Grandeur. The first generation Grandeur was offered until 1992 when
Hyundai partnered with Mitsubishi to develop the next generation (which became the third
generation Mitsubishi Debonair). Hyundai designed the body and trim while Mitsubishi was
tasked with the powertrain.
The success of Excel led to plant expansions at home and abroad. Design on a new Korean
plant in Asan began in October 1988 and the 40 acre plant was opened in 1990 at a cost of
250 billion won. Asan specialized in sedans including Sonata and XG/Grandeur. In North
America, Hyundai opened a plant in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. Over the years the Ulsan plant
grew to cover over 4.8 million square meters making it the largest automotive plant in the
world. Ulsan is production home of the Getz, Accent, Elantra, Coupe, Santa Fe, Trajet,
Matrix, H-1, H-100 and Terracan. Another Korean plant in Chunjoo specializes in trucks,
buses, and specialty vehicles.
During this rapid period of growth, Hyundai leveraged other Hyundai divisions to optimum
advantage. This included electronics, robotics, steel stamping, and even Hyundai's massive
shipyards.
Hyundai's first in-house design, the 1989 Sonata included a Mitsubishi licensed engine but
with Hyundai's own multipoint fuel injection
Hyundai Scoupe included the first engine designed in Korea.
1991 Elantra was powered by the 1.6L DOHC Beta engine
As Hyundai's engineers gain more experience, they continue to implement more of their own
technology and refinement. This work and the new Asan plant culminate in Hyundai's first
entire automobile using their design and technology: the first generation, 1989 Sonata.
Designed with the North American market in mind, the first generation Sonata was styled by
Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign firm. Some were manufactured in Korea and some in the
Quebec plant. Multiple Sirius engine choices (including SOHC and DOHC options) were offered
for various markets. It should be noted that the engines still implemented Mitsubishi
design elements. American models were originally offered with a 2.4 liter inline 4 with
110hp, but a 3.0 liter V6 was introduced in 1990. Other markets received either a 1.8 liter
(95hp) or 2.0 liter (131hp) engine.
Also in 1989 a sport coupe version of the Excel was introduced as the Scoupe (project code
SLC). The Scoupe sold relatively well and was notable as being the first use of Hyundai's
advanced in-house designed, Alpha engine. Available in both naturally aspirated and
turbocharged versions, the Alpha was the first engine designed in Korea. The original 1.5
liter SOHC engine was later made in a smaller 1.3 liter version. The Alpha was later used
in the Accent and Kia Rio. The Scoupe was sold until 1994.
Anxious to switch to in-house designs, the short-lived Stellar was replaced by the Elantra
compact sedan in 1991 (project code J1). The Elantra is also known as the Avante (2nd
generation) and Lantra. The name Lantra arose because Mitsubishi briefly complained that
Elantra was too similar to their Elante trim level. Lotus also complained of the similarity
to the Elan moniker. Note: the Elantra survived longer than the Elante or Elan and Elantra
became the official name worldwide in 2001. The Elantra was powered by the 1.6L inline 4
cylinder Beta engine featuring a cast iron block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads, MFI fuel
injection, 4 valves per cylinder, and forged steel connecting rods. It produced about 114
hp at 6,000 rpm. The top speed was 116 mph and it made 22 mpg/city.
Second generation 1993 Sonata
The second generation Elantra was sold briefly as a wagon
The second generation Sonata was introduced in 1993 (project code Y2) featuring a more
modern shape reminiscent of the Mazda 626 and Honda Accord. Engine choices included a 2.0L
inline 4 and an optional SOHC Sigma 3.0L V6 producing about 150 hp. This Sonata was
originally produced in both South Korea and Canada but mostly due to falling sales, the
Bromont, Quebec plant was shuttered in 1994.
A second generation Elantra debuted in 1995 (project code RD) in sedan and station wagon
styles. Engine choices included the 1.6 and 2.0L Beta as well as a 2.0L turbodiesel (not
in the U.S.). The Elantra was facelifted in 1998.
The Accent subcompact was introduced in 1995 (project code X3) to replace the Excel. It is
also known as the Pony, Excel, Verna, and Brisa. The Accent was extremely popular in
Australia and is still rated as one of the most popular imports of all time. In 1998 it
achieved a 5.5% share of the Australian market. A second generation, larger Accent was
introduced in 2000. Several Alpha engine choices were available including the 1.5L SOHC
inline-4 with 92 hp, 1.5L DOHC inline-4 with 101 hp, and the 1.6L DOHC with 104 hp.
ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS
Asian financial markets and companies faced a difficult period at the end of the 20th
century. Some smart companies like Hyundai made the best of a very difficult situation. It
was during this time that Hyundai reduced its workforce and sold a number of assets. Kia
Motors was faltering and did not have the resources needed to continue. In 1998 Hyundai
Automotive purchased a significant amount of Kia anticipating the synergy of the combined
competitors.
Hyundai's largest and luxurious sedan was introduced in 1999 as the Equus and is sometimes
called the Centennial. It was based upon the front wheel drive Mitsubishi Proudia. A
redesign is due in 2006 with rear wheel drive and an optional V8 engine. A version is
expected to be released in the United States to gauge public reaction to a luxury Hyundai
line.
In his drive to build the world's largest car and truck company, DaimlerChrysler Chief
Executive Jürgen Schrempp purchased a 10.5% stake in Hyundai Motor in June 2000 with the
plan to build small cars and 100,000 trucks a year in a 50-50 joint venture.
The facelifted 2002 Elantra GT featured sportier handling and leather seating
The Elantra appeared in its third generation in 2000 (project code XD). The wagon was no
longer available and was replaced with a 5 door hatchback. While it bares a compact
exterior, the EPA classified it as a midsize because of the generous room inside. The 1.6
and 2.0L Beta engines provided good power and fuel economy rated at 27 mpg city and 34 mpg
highway. In 2002 an updated Elantra GT featuring leather seating and a sharply styled back
was release. The Beta II engine with CVVT was also offered on subsequent versions of the
Elantra sedan.
Unlike the first generation, Grandeur's 2001 second generation model (also known as the
XG300 and XG350) did not incorporate Mitsubishi technology. Rather it offered a choice of
the Sigma 3.0 or 3.5L V6. These engines produced 182 and 200 hp respectively. The Sigma
featured a cast iron block, aluminum DOHC cylinder heads, MFI fuel injection, 4 valves per
cylinder, and forged steel connecting rods. It is interesting to note that this is perhaps
the only time that Hyundai's internal project code (XG) was publicly used in the name of a
vehicle. The United States XG350 received a facelift in 2003.
| Number of Seats | | | Price range | | | Available Colors | | | Engine Type | | | Max Power | | | Max Torque | | | Engine Displacement | | | Maximum Speed | | | Transmission | | | Suspension-Front | | | Suspension-Rear | | | Mileage-City (Km/Ltr) | | | Fuel Tank Capacity | | | Gear System | | | Gear system details | | | Silencer | | | Brake System | | | Front Brake | | | Rear Brake | | | Wheel Base | | | Cubic Capacity | |
Additional featuresSPECIFICATIONS FEATURES
Engine & transmission
Engine : Petrol, Inline-4 cyl, 1795 cc
Bore (mm) x stroke (mm) : 82 x 85
Compression ratio : 10.1:1
Valves per cylinder : 4
Valvegear operation : DOHC
Fuel system : MPFi
Aspiration : Naturally-aspirated
Gears : 5-speed manual
Drive : FWD
Power (bhp@rpm) : 127@6000
Power to weight (bhp/ton) : 100
Torque (Nm@rpm) : 162.79@4500
Torque to weight (Nm/ton) : 128
Fuel Economy
Fuel : Petrol
City (kpl) : 7.7
Highway (kpl) : 13.5
Overall (kpl) : 9
Performance
0-60 kph (sec) : 4.57
0-100 kph (sec) : 10.99
Top speed (kph) : 179
20-80 kph in 3rd gear(sec) : 13.97
40-100 kph in 4th gear(sec) : 19.11
Brakes, Steering, Suspension & Tyres
Brakes - front : Ventilated discs
Brakes - rear : Discs
Steering type : Rack and pinion, power assist
Min. turning radius (m) : 5.06
Suspension - front : Independent, MacPherson struts with gas shock absorbers
Suspension - rear : Dual link, coil springs with anti-roll bar and gas shock absorbers
Tyres : 195/60 R16 tubeless
Interior Dimensions
Seating capacity : 5
Rear seat legroom - min (cm) : 65
Rear seat legroom - max (cm) : 89
Headroom (cm) : 92.5
Boot (liters) : 368
Fuel capacity (liters) : 55
Exterior Dimensions
Kerb weight (kg) : 1267
Length (mm) : 4525
Height (mm) : 1450
Track - front (mm) : 1485
Track - rear (mm) : 1475
Wheelbase (mm) : 2610
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