Spy Pic: 2007 Hyundai Elantra Spotted in Camo

[Variance]

Spy Pic: 2007 Hyundai Elantra Spotted in Camo

Date posted: 03-01-2006

LOS ANGELES — Spotted in the desert in the American Southwest is the latest prototype of the next-generation Hyundai Elantra, the latest in a continuing series of new and redesigned vehicles from the Korean powerhouse.

The Elantra slots into the lineup above the entry-level Accent and below the midsize Sonata. Current prices start at just over $14,000. The Elantra is sold in the home market in Korea as the Avante.

The replacement model, which is expected to use components and architecture from the recently redesigned Kia Spectra, goes into production this spring in Korea.

Its American cousin won't get the new design, however, until this fall, at the start of model-year 2007.

Early reports from our spy photographers out in the field say the new Elantra sedan gets a curvier body and a longer wheelbase, which means more passenger space inside. Family styling cues are shared with the recently revamped Sonata and Accent sedans.

Major mechanical components — including a twin-cam, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual gearbox — will likely be shared with Kia.

What this means to you: Korean kingpin Hyundai is aiming for 1 million sales a year in the States — and the new Elantra will move it closer to that target.

Link w/photo: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109486

[regfootball]

UGLY UGLY UGLY its like a bloated and shrunken AZERA

the new Sentra will feast all over this POS

[Polish_Kris]

UGLY UGLY UGLY its like a bloated and shrunken AZERA

the new Sentra will feast all over this POS

You're basing your opinion on one camo pic?

[ToniCipriani]

Tent on four wheels...

[z28luvr01]

It's all right. You can see in the front end and the greenhouse that it's a sibling of the Santa Fe. The current car was rather nice looking until they gave it a nose job in 2004.

I remember the big celebration Nissan gave itself for selling 1M vehicle a year or two ago. How many more years have they been in business than Hyundai. Any way you look at it, that's impressive.

[ponchoman49]

UGLY UGLY UGLY its like a bloated and shrunken AZERA

the new Sentra will feast all over this POS

The new Sentra is hardly stunning and really just a plainer looking, shrunken Altima/Mazima. Lets wait and see what it looks like in the steel so to speak.

[sciguy_0504]

I thought the Sentra was pretty nice for an economy car. The front of this Elantra looks somewhat like the current-gen, no?

[BlkHhr104]

Tent on four wheels...

That would be an Aztec...................but there was a drwing of wat the new Elantra might look like and so far the drawing looks like the prototypes...well body shape wise.

Edited March 2, 2006 by BlkHhr104

[Cadillacfan]

UGLY UGLY UGLY its like a bloated and shrunken AZERA

the new Sentra will feast all over this POS

um......... can you see something we can't?

[Northstar]

The greenhouse does not look like it will be very modern. Too swoopy for a 2007 MY vehicle, IMO. It looks like a design from about 2000.

[Bimmer325]

I'll reserve final judgement until we see more of this.

However, based on the above image, proportions seem a bit ungainly, and as Northstar stated, the greenhouse looks dated. The window-design looks to resemble the Azera, which is a step backward from the fresher-looking Sonata IMHO.

[regfootball]

You're basing your opinion on one camo pic? 

YUP. its YUCK

[regfootball]

The greenhouse does not look like it will be very modern. Too swoopy for a 2007 MY vehicle, IMO. It looks like a design from about 2000.

BINGO!!!!!!

he said what i meant. and the sonata and azera are both lackluster, and this is looking like a 7/8 scale version of those two visual disasters/dated designs.

06 sonata = 98 escort upsized 11%

[MyerShift]

I thought the new Spectra WAS based on the current Hyundai Elantra. I mean, the current engine in the new Spectra is the exact same 2.0L iron-block 138 horsepower I-4.

Overall, it does seem to resemble a shrunken Azera, which, although no beauty, is far from ugly. The new Toyota Camry is one ugly can on wheels.

Edited March 3, 2006 by MyerShift