Hyundai Elantra News

The theme for the Hyundai Elantra Super Bowl commercial is 'Nice' and actor Johnny Galecki is almost typecast in it, after playing nice guys on both The Big Bang Theory (Leonard) and Roseanne (David).In the footage, directed by Jim Jenkins for Innocean, Galecki tries to chat up a woman who pulls up beside him in a matching Elantra, pointing out all the nice features of the car -- and getting some nice brush-offs in return.He keeps giving it a shot, with little success. There's a bit of action thrown in to spice things up, and a dry cameo from comedian Richard Lewis in the back seat."I've always loved Super Bowl ads - the commercials during the game are always the highlight for me," Galecki said in a statement. "In this Hyundai spot, there's a car chase, there's explosions, and even a car jump - it's exciting, cinematic and filled with humor. I can't wait for everyone to see it!"Watch the desktop version of the Big Bang Theory star in Hyundai Super Bowl ad here.  This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The top-two sellers will be driving the competition; an all-new Mazda3 is around the corner and Toyota will introduce an all-new Corolla sedan to sell alongside last year's champion.Good supply of the two all-new top-selling models means that everyone else in the small-car class -- representing almost a quarter of all new vehicles sold -- will have to sharpen their pencils or risk becoming old stock.To that end, the Mitsubishi Lancer will be in runout for most of the year, while Suzuki will also be pushing hard to clear the decks of its popular Alto city car, ahead of the new model which has grown in size.The locally-made Holden Cruze will also find the going particularly tough against the newer models; Holden has already admitted it loses money on each one it builds and can't limbo much lower on price.Volkswagen will likely maintain its promotional pricing on the Golf every other month as the German factory ramps up production, while Hyundai also has its revised i30 hatch and Elantra sedan twins to take to market."There's never been a better time to buy a new car," said Toyota Australia executive director Tony Cramb, intentionally repeating an old industry cliché.Low interest rates and improved consumer confidence have helped drive sales, he said.Several runout models -- particularly the Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton utes, both of which were Top 10 finishers -- have prompted unprecedented discounts.The new-car market dipped by up to 3 per cent from August to November 2013 in the wake of the Rudd Government's proposed changes to Fringe Benefits Tax rules on company cars, but the industry expects a full recovery in 2014 after December's modest rise of 1.4 per cent.The industry has forecast an increase from last year's record of 1,136,227 new-car sales, to 1,145,000 in 2014.However, Mr Cramb said new-car sales in 2013 would have been higher if not for changes to Fringe Benefits Tax rules proposed by the former Labor Government."The FBT announcement made by the former government definitely slowed down business sales … there are many companies still just making their way back to normal purchases," said Mr Cramb.He said it took the market "a lot longer than we had anticipated" to recover form the botched plan that would have quadrupled the tax on company cars."Companies have extended leases, delayed purchasing decisions, and rather than coming back once … the new Government made it clear they were going to implement previous Government's policies, there was a skepticism in the market among the big fleet companies."This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

Toyota will add a sedan body style to its Corolla lineup from mid-February to help the Japanese giant defend its 2013 best-seller status against the all-new Mazda 3 - arriving later this month.The Australian Corolla sedan will be based on the European-spec model unveiled in Turkey last June, with a slightly less aggressive design than its US counterpart. Aside from a lower roofline and shorter rear overhang, the 11th generation Corolla sedan’s key difference over existing sedan and hatch models is a 100mm wheelbase stretch, with the 2700mm figure resulting in a claimed 75mm legroom increase for rear passengers.The longer-wheelbase sedan follows a similar formula to Nissan and Hyundai  with their Pulsar and Elantra sedan (over the i30 hatch) models, and Toyota Australia's sales and marketing boss Tony Cramb claims the new interior will offer a wholesale improvement over the current sedan."The entire cabin offers a roomier and more premium environment with redesigned seats for greater flexibility and comfort - and the boot is also larger for the convenience of owners," he says.The extended wheelbase is also set to bring dynamic improvements to the sedan, thanks to a larger footprint with the wheels pushed closer to each corner.The new sedan will be produced in 16 factories around the world, but Australian models will be sourced from Thailand, unlike the hatch and current sedan which are produced in Japan.Pricing of the new model is yet to be confirmed, but Toyota claim that Australia’s Free Trade Agreement with Thailand will help “keep a lid on prices”, suggesting little change from the existing sedan’s $20,990-$31,990 pricing, starting $1000 more than the hatch.Toyota is yet to confirm the new sedan’s mechanical package, but it is expected to mirror the hatch with its 103kW/173Nm 1.8-litre petrol four, with six-speed manual or CVT auto transmissions.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | $59,000-$100,000New cars for 2014 | over $100,000 LIGHT CARSAlfa-Romeo MiTo: The Mini Cooper-rivalling MiTo hatch is due for a refresh in January. Tweaked styling is expected, along with updated features and sharpened pricing in line with other recent Fiat Chrysler Australia pricetag shuffles. (Approximately 25,000-30,000)Honda City and Jazz: Honda’s slow-selling City compact sedan is due to be replaced by an all-new model in the second quarter of 2014, leading the also-new third-generation Jazz compact hatch which is expected in around June. The new Jazz will benefit from a new dual-clutch auto transmission, and a new hybrid variant is expected to dip well below the current petrol-electric model’s 4.5L/100km combined figure. (Approximately $16,000-23,000)Kia Rio: Also due for a refresh in the third quarter is the Kia Rio light hatch and sedan range, with the stylish model likely to score visual tweaks and value gains to keep up with more recent competition. (Approximately $15,000-22,000)Mini Cooper: Mini will bring the all-new third-generation ‘new Mini’ Cooper to our shores from May, with the entry models using a new 1.5-litre three cylinder turbo petrol or diesel engine, and the hot Cooper S to step up to a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol from the same family The three-door hatch will be the only bodystyle to lob in 2014, with convertible and a new five-door hatch (at least) to follow later. (Approximately $31,000-$46,000)Volkswagen Polo: Volkswagen’s Polo light hatch range is also due for a mid-cycle refresh in the second half of the year, with revised styling, plus efficiency and technology trickle-down from the Mk7 Golf likely. Approximately $17,000-29,000)SMALL CARSAlfa Romeo Giulietta: Following on from its pricing shuffle in 2013, the small Giulietta hatch range also due for a mid-cycle refresh later in 2014. Approximately 24,000-40,000)Hyundai Elantra: Hyundai will revise its Elantra sedan in January, with freshened styling and a new local suspension tune expected to be the main changes. (Approximately $20,990-$30,190)Kia Pro_cee'd GT: Kia will bring the Pro_cee’d GT down under in March, with the new hot hatch set to go head to head with its mechanical sibling the Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo. (Approximately $30,000)Kia Soul: Also expected in March is a heavily revised version of the trendy Soul small hatch, with rejigged styling, upgraded underpinnings and petrol and diesel drivetrains. (Approximately $21,000-$30,000)Mazda3: Mazda will renew its assault on the Australian sales charts in January, with the arrival of the new third-generation 3 sedan and hatch models. The new 3 will be available with 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre versions of Mazda’s SkyActiv petrol engine from launch, with diesel versions set to follow later. (Approximately $20,000-35,000)Nissan Pulsar SSS sedan: In the third quarter, Nissan will break with Pulsar SSS tradition by adding a sedan version of the hot turbocharged model, with Mazda’s SP25 sedan its only logical rival. (Approximately $31,000)Peugeot 308: Peugeot’s headline act for 2014 will be the new 308 small hatch, with the lighter and more efficient model arriving before the end of the year to target Volkswagen’s Golf head-on. (Approximately $25,000-$40,000)Proton Suprima S: Proton will launch the Preve sedan-based Suprima S small hatch in January, in $21,790 (drive away) GX and $26,590 (drive away) GXR spec levels. Available with a CVT auto initially, both versions will use a 103kW/250Nm 1.6 litre petrol turbo. Cheaper $19,790 (GX) and $24,590 (GXR) six –speed manual versions will arrive later in the year. (Approximately $19,790-$24,590)Proton Preve: In the second quarter, ther Malaysian brand will add a five-speed manual version of the Preve GXR sedan, which is expected to undercut the existing CVT auto version by $2000 with a $20,990 drive away pricetag. A more upmarket Preve LE is expected at around the same time, and likely to be priced around the $25,000 mark.Renault Megane: Also due around June is a mid-cycle refresh for the Megane coupe, cabriolet, and wagon models. (Approximately $20,000-$50,000)Skoda Rapid Spaceback: Skoda will introduce the much anticipated Rapid Spaceback in the second quarter, with the new hatch to sit beneath the recently launched Octavia Liftback and wagon. (Approximately from $20,000)Toyota Corolla sedan: Toyota’s grasp on the Australian market is set to be strengthened by the arrival of a sedan version of the new Corolla in February. Both European and US versions of the new sedan have been unveiled, and the Australian model will most closely resemble the European model. (Approximately $20,000-$32,000)Volkswagen Golf wagon: Volkswagen will add a wagon bodystyle to its Mk7 Golf lineup early in 2014, mirroring the hatch with its range of petrol and diesel engines. (Approximately $27,000-37,000)FAMILY CARSFord Falcon: The once-mighty Falcon range is set to undergo its final facelift in the fourth quarter of 2014, ahead of it’s now certain doom in 2016. Minor styling revisions are expected, but the addition of Ford’s SYNC multimedia system and the return of the XR8 V8 model (as FPV is wound up) are likely to be the biggest changes. (Approximately 37,000-56,000)Kia Optima: Kia’s Optima will score a mid-cycle update in January, with revised styling inside and out, along with added features. (Approximately $30,990-$40,490)PEOPLE MOVERSCitroen C4 Grand Picasso: Citroen will replace the long-serving C4 Grand Picasso with an all-new version in the second quarter of 2014. The new model promises to continue as a stylish alternative to other seven-seat people movers with a choice of petrol or diesel drivetrains and will hopefully retain the current model’s sub-$40,000 pricing. (Approximately $37,000-$40,000)Honda Odyssey: An all-new Odyssey eight-seat people mover will follow in February, with fresh styling, improved features and safety and a more efficient drivetrain. (Approximately $35,000-$43,000)Kia Grand Carnival: Later in the year, Kia will replace the segment-champion but ageing Grand Carnival model. Improvements to safety, features, and efficiency are expected, and should be a winner if the smaller new Rondo is anything to go by. (Approximately $39,000-56,000)SUV/4WDFord EcoSport: The Blue Oval’s new EcoSport baby will complete its lineup in February, with the cheaper Trend and Ambiente spec levels joining the top-line Titanium that launched the model in December. (Approximately $20,790-27,790)Honda CR-V diesel: Honda will kick off 2014 by adding the first-ever diesel variant to the local CR-V SUV lineup in January. The 2.2 litre unit produces 110kW/350Nm, and will be available in six-speed manual or five-speed auto with all-wheel drive only. Official fuel consumption is as low as 5.8L/100km. (Approximately $35,000-$45,000)Jeep Cherokee: Jeep’s new more-civilised Cherokee SUV will arrive in the first half of 2014, with a choice of 2.4-litre petrol, 3.2-litre petrol V6, or 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines. (Approximately $28,000-$37,000)Kia Sportage: During the second quarter, Kia will grace its Sportage medium SUV with a more significant update than the minor revisions made in mid-2013 with the shift to European production. Like Optima, expect fresh interior and exterior styling and new features. (Approximately $25,000-$40,000)Kia Sorento: The final Kia model for 2014 is likely to be a significantly revamped Sorento seven-seat SUV, with a comprehensive design update inside and out to bring it in line with the fresher styling of its Hyundai Santa Fe mechanical twin. (Approximately $38,000-$51,000)Nissan X-Trail: Nissan will replace its hugely successful X-Trail medium SUV in about July, with the bigger design offering seating for seven for the first time, and improved refinement to go with its softened exterior design. (Approximately $30,000-$47,000)Nissan Qashqai: Nissan’s other significant SUV arrival for 2014 will be the Dualis-replacing Qashqai compact SUV, which will arrive in five-seat only guise in the third quarter. (Approximately $26,000-$36,000)Renault Captur: The Renault Captur will arrive mid-year, representing the French brand in the rapidly expanding compact SUV segement. The Clio-based crossover should start in the low $20,000s, and challenge the Trax, Juke, 2008, and EcoSport. (Approximately from $20,000)Skoda Yeti: Skoda’s best-selling Yeti compact SUV is also in line for a mid-cycle refresh in around June, with revised styling and features to bring it in line with the brand’s newer models. (Approximately $26,000-$38,000)Suzuki S-Cross: Suzuki’s SX4-replacing S-Cross will arrive in January, with reduced fuel consumption an increased interior space over the model it supercedes. Like the SX4, the S-Cross will continue with 2WD and AWD options, and will be priced between $22,990 and $34,990.COMMERCIAL VEHICLESFord Transit: Ford’s commercial lineup will receive a boost in January with the arrival of an all-new Transit van model, with the light-duty Transit Custom touching down ahead of the heavy-duty Transit Cargo range in April. (Approximately $36,000-$52,000)Renault Kangoo Maxi crew van: A passenger-carrying Kangoo Maxi crew van is also expected in the second quarter. (Approximately $27,000)

The Hyundai Elantra has been given a makeover for 2014, rolling into the showrooms as a Series II with freshened looks, some extra features, price rises of $400 and $1000 depending on model, and the axing of the mid-spec Elite in manual form. The body gets new bumpers front and rear, with new chrome grille (featuring darker chrome on the top-spec Premium), chromed beltline moulding, and foglights across the range. The Elite and Premium both get new alloy wheel designs -- 16-inch and 17-inch respectively -- and power folding door mirrors. The Premium adds has projection-beam headlights with surrounding LED daytime running lights. All models get a revised version of the carryover four-cylinder 1.8-litre engine introduced in June 2011, which now also gets new heat and noise underbonnet insulation. It produces up to 110kW of power at 6500rpm and 178Nm of torque and is mated to six-speed automatic with electronic sequential manual mode across all spec levels, with only the base model Active retaining a six-speed manual transmission.  The Elantra has already been awarded the full five-star ANCAP safety rating. Elite and Premium have ditched the the reversing camera display integrated into a small area in the rearview mirror, and now show it on a more conventional screen in the dash. Standard safety features include: six airbags, ABS brakes with EBD, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control System (TCS), and a sophisticated Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system. The Elantra gets three-year capped price servicing, a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, and three years of satnav map upgrades. Hyundai Elantra Series II prices Hyundai Elantra Series II Active (man) $20,990 (+$400) Hyundai Elantra Series II Active (auto) $23,190 (+$400) Hyundai Elantra Series II Elite (auto) $26,790 (+$1000) Hyundai Elantra Series II Premium (auto) $30,190 (+$1000) This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

That might sound like a silly answer to a serious question, but it's the best solution for optimum shopping in the back end of 2013. You see, Korea now makes better Japanese cars than the Japanese. And that's a fact.There are some exceptions, and some categories where the Koreans are still getting a foothold, but a Hyundai i30 or a Kia Cerato is a far better choice than a Mitsubishi Lancer, a Kia Sportage makes more sense than a Honda CR-V, and a Hyundai Santa Fe is much better buying than a Toyota Kluger.This Korean tide has been rising for a while, but it's now filled showrooms with quality cars that are backed by industry-leading five-year warranties with capped-price servicing costs. The two Korean juggernauts are also serious about tuning their cars for Australian drivers and roads, which is becoming a serious selling point and also a battlefield for bragging rights between Hyundai and Kia.Even Daewoo, which was absorbed into the Holden empire to provide cut-price cars such as the Barina and Captiva, is now doing a better job as the engineering and design expertise from Fishermans Bend is absorbed deeply into the Korean content on the cars. And don't forget that the Aussie-made Cruze compact, despite its local tweaking and assembly in Adelaide, began its life at the GM Daewoo division in Korea.Without getting into a history lesson, the seismic shift between Japan and Korea comes down to three things. First is the deep-seated rivalry between the two countries, second is the well-lit path to success blazed by Japanese makers including Honda and Toyota, and third is the Global Financial Crisis. How's that?Well, nothing makes a Korean businessman happier than beating a Japanese rival, even though the Japanese were the first Asian companies to achieve success in motoring thanks to cars like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and the classy machines that followed. These days, the Nissan GT-R is a legend and the Toyota LandCruiser is an icon.So the Koreans assimilated the Japanese business model for cheap, reliable and sensible cars - think of the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Rio - and then found a way to build them with similar quality at a lower price. There was a time when the cabins of Korean cars stank - because of the 'release agent' applied to plastic parts - and the assembly was slipshod and downmarket, but not today. They also have aircon with Japanese efficiency, always a pointer to intelligent engineering in Australian weather.But it's the GFC which has made the biggest difference. While the Japanese brands panicked, cutting costs and stretching the lifetimes of their cars, the Koreans accelerated their development plans, brought new models, and invested in their dealerships in Australia.The results are obvious now as many Japanese cars - we're talking about the Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza - have lost their previous edge, while others - think Mitsubishi Pajero and Subaru WRX - are way overdue for a remake.In the meantime, Hyundai is now plotting a move upmarket with its luxury Genesis models and Kia is setting a global standard for quality styling thanks to its recruiting of design genius Peter Schreyer. Best of all, when you're buying, it's the driveaway pricing that's been a Korean signature since Hyundai blazed that trail in the 1990s to get nervous shoppers over the line.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

A tidier Elantra is the next newcomer from Hyundai as it accelerates its new-model plans for the next five years. The mid-sized Korean contender only gets a mild update for 2013 but there is much more to come.The upscale Genesis coupe is already confirmed and now comes news from Korea of an update to the Accent later this year, as well as the Accent SR developed in Australia to sit alongside the SR versions of the Veloster A warm hatch with a nice price - that's the bottom line on the Hyundai i30 SR and i30.Hyundai has a long-term goal to move up from its current fourth place in the Australian car business and chief operating officer, John Elsworth, is talking up the prospects. "Our results this year have been incredibly strong. Overall we are placed fourth in the market. We're number two in passenger cars and fourth in SUVs," Elsworth says.Hyundai is still short of models, including a ute to pitch into the red-hot pickup contest, but it's no worse than third in any of the showroom classes where it has a serious contender. "Our approach and goal is for consistent growth, versus peaks and troughs in sales, and having a good mix of sales across models and all buyer types," Elsworth says."Currently our sales mix continues to improve, with 66 per cent of sales going to private and small businesses, and add to that nine per cent dealer demonstrators, which are predominantly sold privately after their holding period. So that's 75 per cent of sales as private and small business."Against that background, Hyundai is bullish about its sales forecast for 2013 against an overall market it expects to hit 1.14 million. With the i30 SR ready now for showrooms, the next arrival is the updated Elantra."It will be here this year. In the third quarter," company spokesman Bill Thomas tells Carsguide. "It's a mid-life Elantra update. There are no sheetmetal changes, but there are new lights front and rear. One of the big improvements is inside., where we've put the central air vents higher, based on customer feedback, and that's give us the opportunity to give the cabin a more premium feel."It's got our new suspension as well. It's very nice." But there is still no chance of a diesel engine choice. "There is a diesel for other countries, but we're staying with petrol power for Australia," Thomas says.Apart from the Genesis, the star for 2014 is a new Sonata. It has a new body, a different interior approach and will - inevitably - get Australian suspension tuning. Hyundai is also expected to add a rear-wheel drive sporty sedan, in the style of the Lexus IS, by 2016. Its codename is RK and it could have styling based on the HCD-14 concept car from this year's Detroit motor show. But no-one is saying anything about RK, or anything beyond the end of this year. "No comment. That's it," Thomas says bluntly.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover

Revealed at the Chicago motor show -- and designed at Hyundai's North American Design Center in Irvine, California -- the Elantra Coupe takes Hyundai's dynamic "Fluidic Sculpture" design principles to the next level. Hyundai's signature hexagonal front fascia opening and jewelled swept-back headlights give the Coupe a lean, aggressive demeanor. Fog lights and available side mirror repeater lamps complement the view from the front. It's fitted with the same 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine as the sedan, pushing out 110kW of power and 178Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission, producing fuel economy of 5.9 litres/100km in manual form. In the States the car is fitted with a 7-inch touch-screen navigation with rearview camera and a hands-free phone system with voice recognition. Hyundai says there are no plans to introduce the Elantra Coupe into the Australian market at this stage.

The new model will be available with a 1.8-litre petrol engine in three trim levels: Active, Elite and Premium, with a choice of 6-speed manual (Active only) or 6-speed automatic transmission.Designed at Hyundai's North American Design Centre in Irvine California, Elantra is said to exemplify Hyundai's 'Fluidic Sculpture' design philosophy.Creating the illusion of constant motion, flowing lines with a strong undercut feature contrast with muscular wheel arches and a seamless roofline. The result is a sleek aerodynamic on-road stance.Hyundai's signature hexagonal front grille and swept-back headlights give Elantra a compact athletic face.Inside the all-new Elantra, Hyundai's expertise in interior design and packaging are evident.The a new interior concept is called 'Wind Craft', a dynamic and futuristic direction which informs a striking and stylish cockpit, with a bold metal effect garnish originating at the crash pad and flowing to the console in a sculptured airstream-like contour.The combination piano-black and chrome finishes add a quality, hi-tech feel to the interior.The new Elantra will be priced from $20,590 plus on road costs.

There is also a new Elantra which is clearly close to a showroom take-off.  A Carparazzi photographer caught the upcoming Elantra during snow-road running in the Arctic and the pictures show a car which is much closer to production than anyone expected.The Elantra was not originally planned to hit the road until the 2013 model year in the USA, which means sometime in 2012 in Australia, but inside sources point to an accelerated plan to replace the current car.Carparazzi says the new Elantra is slightly longer, with a wheelbase up to 2700 millimetres, together with styling that is much more flamboyant than the current car.  For a start, it has Hyundai's take on the coupe-like roofline which is now popular with a range of cars from the Mercedes CLS to the Volkswagen Passat CC and upcoming Jetta.There is also a clamshell bonnet, much sharper cut lines, and turn signals — or are they daytime running lamps — set just behind the headlamps. The wheels are also larger and the tail end is much higher as the Korean company looks for the best aero performance.