The 2016 Elantra will feature styling that Zuchowski called "Audiesque." The Elantra lineup also includes a coupe and a hatchback.
"The easiest way to describe that without going into any detail is that it looks more Audiesque, to me it looks more European," he said. "It is beautifully styled and it does not look like a (lower-priced) compact car. It looks like a richer segment car. It looks more elegant, more premium (than the current Elantra).
Run the new Sonata through a copier machine at 75% and you've got the Elantra.
It'll definitely be more conservative in terms of design because even though the 'Fluidic Sculpture' design language was well-received in North America, it caused sales to plummet in the home market where tastes are much more conservative. Personally I think that's a shame because when car makers take a risk and it doesn't work out, they become risk-adverse and wind up not wanting to try new things.
Hmmmm, Audiesque as in TT :surprise: or the A series? I am sure it is in the A series tradition. And as in the '15 Sonata they are going for the more "look how we have matured" vehicle.
:laughing: Wow, wonder what we'll have to pay for all of that electrical luxury and wiping up convenience at the Service Centers? :grin2: I'll wait for something a bit more tangible for my eyes to feast upon before I heap praises or a bucketful of scorn upon the design team.
Ever priced a used VW bug? I'm talking "old school" bug. The asking prices for those things, today, will still knock you over. Why? Because Volkswagen, for decades never changed the body style. It became hard to distinguish between a 1958, 1962, or a 1969, albeit a few minor cosmetic changes here and there. They kept their values because they never aged in the eyes of the consumer. American manufacturers were always doing body style changes...sometimes on a yearly basis. That made the new model more sought after, and the other models lost their values at a rate higher than they should have. Simple marketing and economics. We're spoiled, now. Can't wait to trade in the old 2 year car for "brighter, better, quicker, sexier...etcetera." Well, my opinion, anyway.
Maybe they will resurrect the independent rear from the 2007-2010 Elantra?
Not surprised the next Elantra will be Audi-esque considering the head of styling for Hyundai-Kia is Audi-VW alumni Peter Schreyer. Compare the '15 Genesis proboscis to that of an A6 and you just "can't miss it". It's already here.
The cherry on the sundae will be when they take four little "H in an oval" logos and glue them overlapping side by side on the grille. That'd be hysterical, and sounds like something I will want to do in photoshop when the early renderings start to appear.
And regarding Don67's quote - "I heard the car will be made 50% more "Audiesque", by increasing electrical defects by 20% and oil leaks by 30%" - remember to allow 30% for "now having to remove the entire front clip and drop the powertrain to change the alternator on the car, with a 45 hour time estimate."
The 2016 Elantra will feature styling that Zuchowski called "Audiesque." The Elantra lineup also includes a coupe and a hatchback.
"The easiest way to describe that without going into any detail is that it looks more Audiesque, to me it looks more European," he said. "It is beautifully styled and it does not look like a (lower-priced) compact car. It looks like a richer segment car. It looks more elegant, more premium (than the current Elantra).
Oh great, back to copying the Germans, the B5 Passat caused a round of copies so guess it's fair the Audi gets its fair share. Oh and like Gamewarden mentioned, you gotta love such high tech engineering that uses rubber timing belts on an interference engine design.
The 2006-10 Sonata was a blatant Audi ripoff, and while it seemed plain at the time it has aged well IMO. Every time one goes by, I find myself wishing I'd bought a used 2010 Sonata for less money than we spent on our new 2011 Elantra.
The 2015 Sonata looks nice, but the Fluidic 2.0 styling seems a bit too tame for my taste. It's like they tried to play it safe. I liked the original Fluidic designs because they were different; they stood out and I liked that.
Seeing how the new Sonata looks so much more conservative, I'm sure the 2016 Elantra will follow the same route. I'm interested to see what it looks like, though. I wonder if they'll still have a Coupe and GT version? (I know the GT is technically not a true Elantra but actually an i30).
More Audiesque? Honestly, the new German cars like VWs and Audis don't really stand out to me. They all have that same look, just different sized cars.
The 2015 Sonata looks nice, but the Fluidic 2.0 styling seems a bit too tame for my taste. It's like they tried to play it safe. I liked the original Fluidic designs because they were different; they stood out and I liked that.
Me, too! The engineers went way out of the box on the MD Elantra design with that fluidic styling. And they won. The won BIG! Car of the Year awards and Consumer Reports even gave it good marks.
Stay out of the box, fellas. In fact, let's do this. Forger that there even IS a box.
I hope the next generation Elantra gets a real sport trim with a turbo engine and improved handling. Carplay is also a must since the sonata has it. I wouldn't mind the "Audi" look if the repairs stay at minimum :laughing: or looks more like the genesis.
My lease on my current Elantra is going to be coming up in January, probably can't extend until the new model comes out.
I could live with that. Looks a bit more KIA than H, as does the 2.0 designs. Getting the turbo that the Forte 5 has would be a bonus. Most importantly, get the rear end fixed on the whole lineup. Hopefully the new GT will lead the pack on good interior design, as it did in the current models.
I assume the 4 holes in the back are for parking backup sensors? The third brake light is moved from the trunk to the roof. The sharkfin is gone and I don't see any antenna, but it's just a test mule so it might just not be installed yet.
The Korean market Avante definitely has the third brake light in the same spot as the North American Elantra on the current gen models. The move to the top is a change for both markets, assuming that Hyundai keeps it as seen in the photo.
GPS is also in the sharkfin antenna. I'm unsure if the Korean Avante's without nav have an antenna there or not. Either way, the lack of the antenna doesn't tell you much since it's just a test mule. The design is always subject to change, and the antenna might not even be implemented yet in the test muel.
I'm excited to see what visual and powerplant changes are going to happen. If it has 200+ hp I may just get another E instead of a Gencoupe or WRX. I know that's kind of wishful thinking, but who knows =))
Elantra: A re-engineered Elantra is scheduled for a late 2015 launch, though it may slip into early 2016.
As with other recently re-engineered Hyundais, the Elantra carries over the same platform but with significant changes. Those include a revamped suspension for better driving dynamics and additional high-strength steel incorporated into the car's body-in-white for added stiffness and lower noise, vibration and harshness.
The Elantra will get new sheet metal and a new interior design. Its 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter engine options will carry over into the coming generation. The company is considering a smaller, turbocharged engine, but no decision has been made.
Just like the 2015 Sonata..the 1.8 L and 2.0 GDI engine that will be carried over to the next-Elantra will be modified (E-CVVT and other modifications)
To be a "revolutionary" update from the current version it would surely have to sport 3-foot tail fins and a bubble dome. ^_^
Korean business culture is notoriously impatient, and with the Elantra having achieved a critical mass of sales you can bet that the higher-ups at Hyundai are eager to "grow up" the current model for even broader appeal. That means a little more Corolla DNA whether we like it or not.
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