Hyundai's i30 Makes The Atlantic Crossing As the 2018 Elantra GT: Comments

[William Maley]

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Last week, Hyundai teased the next-generation Elantra GT before its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show. We figured out that this could be the European i30 from a couple of pictures. It seems our guess was correct.

Aside from the name and one engine, the 2018 Elantra GT doesn't share any design traits with the standard Elantra. The model is a bit more squarish and features touches such as a more aggressive front bumper, bold character line, and a distinctly shaped tailgate. Inside, there is a European flavor with an uncluttered dash and 8-inch touchscreen sitting on top of the dash. Cargo space is towards the top with 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats, and 55 cubic feet when folded.

Two engines will be on offer for the Elantra GT. Base will be a 2.0L four-cylinder with 162 horsepower. This can be paired with a six-speed manual or automatic. The Elantra GT Sport comes with a turbocharged 2.0L four with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT will be on offer for the Sport. Other changes for the Sport include swapping the torsion-beam rear suspension setup for a multi-link one, 18-inch alloy wheels, and larger brakes.

Hyundai says the Elantra GT will arrive at dealers this summer.

Source: Hyundai
Press Release is on Page 2

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ALL-NEW 2018 ELANTRA GT MAKES DEBUT AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW
CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2017 – Hyundai Motor America debuts the all-new 2018 Elantra GT at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. Lower, wider, and longer, the all-new Elantra GT adds a more aggressive stance and interior volume to its clean European style and driving dynamics. When the new hatchback arrives this summer, shoppers can choose between two models, the efficient, smooth running GT, or the more powerful and fun-to-drive GT Sport. Elantra GT is based on the new-generation i30 model designed for the European market.

“The new Elantra GT brings more to the North American shores for the 2018 model year,” said Scott Margason, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “More space and features inside. More aggression and European flair outside. And more options under the hood. I’m particularly excited to showcase the GT Sport, a true hot hatch.”

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2018 ELANTRA GT

• Lower, wider, more aggressive stance
• European styling
• Nearly 25 cubic feet of behind rear seat storage
• Standard vertical LED daytime running lights
• Standard eight-inch display audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
• Available dual-zone climate control
• Available high and low beam LED headlights
• Available wireless smartphone charging
• Amazon Alexa Blue Link remote starting
• Blue Link heated features

STRONG STRUCTURE AND STRIKING FIGURE
With clean proportions, flowing character lines, and an attention grabbing new cascading grille design, the new GT imbues class and sophistication. It’s posture; lower, wider, and longer; shows the GT means business. The GT lands where European style meets American can-do attitude and ability. And it’s not merely skin deep, over half the structure (53-percent) comprises of advanced high-strength steel, nearly double the outgoing generation. And it’s bonded together with just over 367 feet of structural adhesive. This combines to make the Elantra GT, stiffer, stronger, and lighter. It’s 22-percent more rigid than the last GT to be specific. And the body-in-white weighs 61 pounds less. That combines with a slippery 0.30 coefficient of drag making the GT feel solid, efficient and smooth.

CAPACIOUS CABIN
While the outside dimensions effectively match that of most compact hatchbacks, clever ergonomics and packaging make room inside for five and so much more. In fact, with 96.5 cubic feet of passenger volume and nearly 25 cubic feet of cargo volume, we expect the EPA to classify the Elantra GT as a large car, rarified territory for this class. And with the rear seats folded, the GT offers massive amounts of space for cargo.

	Capacity (cubic feet)	Elantra GT advantage
Elantra GT	55.1	--
Civic	46.2	19.3%
Cruze	47.2	16.7%
Mazda3	47.1	17.0%
Focus	43.9	25.5%
Golf	52.7	4.6%

GREAT POWERTRAIN OPTIONS
For 2018, choose between two inline-four-cylinder engines in the Elantra GT. The efficient yet robust, direct injection 2.0-liter makes an estimated 162 peak horsepower. It mates to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Opt for the GT Sport and get the 1.6-liter turbo engine found in the Elantra Sport and enjoy an estimated 201 peak horsepower along with a broad band torque peak of 195 pound feet. The six-speed manual is available here too, or an athletic, seven-speed dual-clutch gear box.

RIDE AND HANDLING
Taking advantage of the stiff and strong new structure, Hyundai tested and developed the Elantra GT on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. Running hundreds of laps, the engineers tested for ride, handling, and durability. This resulted in a suspension tune that feels taut yet comfortable, minimizing unwanted body roll yet maximizing wheel impact absorption. Opt for the GT Sport and the rear torsion beam suspension is switched for a fully-independent multilink setup, standard 18” alloy wheels and larger front and rear brake rotors for even more fun when the going gets twisty. All-in-all, whether it’s a spirited drive through a canyon road, or carrying your mountain bike to the trailhead up the canyon, the Elantra GT is ready.

ILLUSTRIOUS INSIDES
Aside from great available appointments inside the Elantra GT, like leather seats, alloy pedals, and dual-zone climate control, Hyundai added several new items to keep you comfortable and safe. The Elantra GT is available with conveniences like Infinity Premium Audio with Clari-Fi™, Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™, and wireless smartphone charging. That’s on top of great standard features such as 8-inch display audio and 17-inch alloy wheels. For safety, the GT is available with several systems usually found in expensive luxury vehicles, such as Smart Cruise Control with stop/start capability, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keep Assist, Attention Assist, High-Beam Assist, and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-traffic Alert.

Vastly improved structure, Nürburgring refined driving-dynamics, and top-notch features in the new Elantra GT redefine what it means to be a “compact” hatchback.

ENHANCED HYUNDAI BLUE LINK REMOTE START AND THE BLUE LINK® SKILL FOR AMAZON ALEXA
Hyundai Blue Link customers have performed more than 25 million remote starts since its debut in 2011. Although remote start is a great feature for hot weather, most take place in cold climates during January, February and March. In fact, Blue Link Remote Start with Climate Control is three times more popular in the winter. With this in mind, Hyundai engineers have enhanced the Remote Start with Climate Control feature to include control of the rear defroster and heated side mirrors into the Blue Link mobile app. These new enhancements debut with the launch of the 2018 Elantra GT and will be available on other models in the future.

For the ultimate level of convenience when it comes to remote starting a car on a bitterly cold winter morning, Hyundai has its new Blue Link skill for Amazon Alexa. The skill works by a customer simply asking an Alexa-enabled device, like an Amazon Echo or Dot, to start their car. The interaction actually sounds like this “Alexa, tell Blue Link to start my car at 80 degrees.” To send commands to Hyundai vehicles via Alexa, users must enable the Blue Link skill in their Alexa app available on: iOS, Android and Fire devices; and then link their existing Blue Link account within the Alexa app. Voice commands will only be sent to Hyundai vehicles after Alexa prompts owners for their Blue Link Personal Identification Number (PIN).

NEXT GENERATION INFOTAINMENT: AUDIO/VIDEO/NAVIGATION (AVN) 5.0 WITH HD TRAFFIC
The 2018 Elantra GT also debuts Hyundai next generation AVN 5.0 infotainment system. This system features an upgraded processor for greater responsiveness, as well as an eight-inch screen vs. the seven-inch screen in last generation Elantra GT. Using presets with AVN 5.0 is a snap because AM, FM and SiriusXM channels are now combined on one screen. A bird’s eye view has also been added to Navigation maps and drivers can now get traffic flow and incident data without ever paying for a subscription via HD Radio.

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[G. David Felt]

Looks like a modern take on a Station Wagon.

[ocnblu]

Overall interesting looking vehicle, even if the back end resembles Grumpy Cat.  I am an advocate of hatchbacks and the turbo with manual should get out of its own way (162 hp on the base engine is not bad either for the class).

 

A couple of weeks ago we had SEVEN Sonatas lined up at one time for engine replacements.  Things like that scare me even though the vehicles are not bad looking.

[daves87rs]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

Overall interesting looking vehicle, even if the back end resembles Grumpy Cat.  I am an advocate of hatchbacks and the turbo with manual should get out of its own way (162 hp on the base engine is not bad either for the class).

 

A couple of weeks ago we had SEVEN Sonatas lined up at one time for engine replacements.  Things like that scare me even though the vehicles are not bad looking.

Wonder what years....good friend of mine had to have his replaced just after 100k on his 2011....

[ccap41]

19 hours ago, William Maley said:

The Elantra GT Sport comes with a turbocharged 2.0L four with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT will be on offer for the Sport. Other changes for the Sport include swapping the torsion-beam rear suspension setup for a multi-link one, 18-inch alloy wheels, and larger brakes.

I love it! I'm about those hot hatches!

Sounds like a Hyundai GTI.

Edit: Holy shet. The more I look through pictures of it they are absolutely copying the GTI. From the instrument cluster to the infotainment radio.

Edited February 10, 2017 by ccap41

[Frisky Dingo]

37 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I love it! I'm about those hot hatches!

Sounds like a Hyundai GTI.

Edit: Holy shet. The more I look through pictures of it they are absolutely copying the GTI. From the instrument cluster to the infotainment radio.

The center stack is really quite different.

As usual, they nailed the interior appearance and feature front, but this segment lives and dies on how well the car actually drives. Judging by previous attempts, I have difficulty believing this car is even more exciting/athletic than a standard Golf. Or much quicker. 

[ccap41]

22 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

The center stack is really quite different.

As usual, they nailed the interior appearance and feature front, but this segment lives and dies on how well the car actually drives. Judging by previous attempts, I have difficulty believing this car is even more exciting/athletic than a standard Golf. Or much quicker. 

Well yes, the entire center stack is different but the infotainment screen with the buttons on the side along with the instrument cluster are absolute copies. Heck, even the shifter and surrounding buttons are very similar..