The facelifted Hyundai Elantra has been officially unveiled in Korea, revealing a refreshed design and new features.
Teased last week, and badged Avante in its home Korean market, the new 4550mm-long Hyundai Elantra measures 20mm longer than the previous model, while still riding on the same 2700mm wheelbase.
The result of front and rear bumpers being stretched 5mm and 15mm respectively, the extended dimensions put the Elantra 30mm shy of the current Mazda 3 sedan.
Up front the new Elantra gains a revised front bumper, radiator grille and fog lights along with LED strips incorporated into the headlights.
At the rear, LED tail-lights sit above a tweaked body colour and black rear bumper, while chrome door handles and redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior changes.
Inside, Hyundai says the centre air vent has been moved up on the dash and the front centre armrest raised in a bid to improve usability, in direct response to customer feedback.
A 3.5-inch digital display, rear passenger air vents and ventilated seats have also been introduced and join a new smart parking assist system and the Korean brand’s flex steer adjustable-weight steering system.
A diesel engine has been added to the Elantra range too, with the 94kW/279Nm 1.6-litre unit claiming a fuel economy best of 5.4L/100km when tied to a manual transmission. While netting a higher 6.2L/100km with the automatic transmission fitted, the auto ‘box comes with stop-start technology. The existing 110kW/178Nm 1.8-litre petrol engine is expected to remain in the line-up.
The facelifted Hyundai Elantra is due to go on sale locally in the fourth quarter of 2013, 23 years since the first-generation model launched globally in 1990.
Full pricing and specification information is to be announced closer to the car’s Australian release.
