HYUNDAI NEO FLUIDIC ELANTRA " THE ELEGENCE"

The second largest car manufacturer in India, Hyundai has launched its fifth generation Elantra. This name is not new for Indians; it’s launched for the second time in India. Earlier it was in 2004 when it entered Indian market and things could not have been much worse at that time for this car. The sales records were heart breaking for Hyundai and they eventually had to discontinue this car in 2007.There were many reasons for its failure. First it was Hyundai’s small car manufacturer image in India which made it hard for people to spend money on their premium cars. Secondly, Indian market was not ready for cars like Elantra at that time; it was too early for Hyundai to launch Elantra in India. But now things have changed, Indians are spending more money on cars than ever. People now don’t hesitate to buy premium sedans. Hyundai also knows it and that’s why they are ready with their new Elantra. They are already enjoying high sales of their newly launched fluidic Verna and with their world acclaimed new fluidic deign, Hyundai also expects neo Elantra to earn its respect and dignity in Indian market.

FAST FACTS ABOUT ELANTRA:-

• Base variant of Petrol (S) is priced for Rs, 12.5 Lakhs
• Base variant of Diesel (S) is priced for Rs, 12.9 Lakhs 
• Is available in six speed manual and Automatic.

The base model of Fluidic Elantra petrol is priced at Rs. 12,51,000 and base model of diesel is available for Rs. 12,91,000. New Elantra was on display the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. Since then it was one of the most awaited sedans in India. As far as looks and interiors are concerned Neo Fluidic Elantra is the best looking sedan in its class and will easily beat its rivals in terms of sales. The main competitors of 2013 Elantra are Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta, Skoda Laura and Toyota Corolla. The company has managed to price the New Elantra very competitively and it is expected that it will set the sales charts on fire and will be the most-selling D-segment sedan in Indian car market. The booking amount for the car is two lakh rupees and customer can also initiate the booking process via SMS service also. As per the dealers the response for New Hyundai Elantra is very good and the company has managed to book around 750 cars till date (14th August, 2012).

In an endeavor to launch a fresh D segment car imbibing the fluidic design, Hyundai has re-launched the Elantra. The Elantra was launched in India in 2004 but then didn’t make a very successful launch and was called off at 2007. However, learning from the past Hyundai have introduced the 5th generation Neo Elantra Fluidic and very positive about its performance in the D segment especially considering the company’s absence in this segment.

INTERIOR:- 

Though both interiors and exteriors matter in determining the appeal of a car, the interiors have a greater importance as the comfort and the luxury form an influential criterion for many buyers.

Hyundai design engineers have given lots of attention to the interiors. The doors open wide and give easy access. Lumber supports and thigh support of the seats are designed well to offer best of comfort. There is ample legroom. The steering wheel is tilt adjustable.The steering wheel hints of a great driver’s car cause of its arrangement. It has audio controls, blue tooth connectivity and also cruise control options and all the buttons are very well distributed on the steering wheel making them easy to access.

Dashboard is wide and nicely designed with smoothness and utility as a priority. The Instrument culture is truly a super vision cluster which not only provides all the necessary information but also gives a feeling of sophistication.

Combination of glass and metal finish on console complement the shape of dashboard along with perfect dual toning. Even the door panel has been designed in detailed manner. Power window control switch, rear view mirror adjustment switch are placed on a vertical position on the door panel. When the door are closed, it looks a part of the dashboard .Broad arm supports, bottle and magazine holder inserts are given in door panel for greater utility.

The broad seats with leather cushioning, good lumbar support and plenty of leg room are the highlights of the interior along with appropriate color combination on dashboard, quality of finishing of the gear knob, the digital display with blue background and electrically adjustable driver seats. All these adds to the comfort value and make it a premium offering in the D segment.

Speculations in the market suggest that 2012 Hyundai Elantra will be offered in 3 variants. The base variant would come with basic interiors such as high quality fabric upholstery on the seats, an awesome sound system accompanied with evenly spread six speakers and a CD player, satellite radio, iPod USB audio interface with AUX in facility. The next variant is expected to adorn remarkable air conditioning system, solar glass, Active Eco System, power steering mounted with audio controls, comfortable armrest and illuminated vanity mirrors. The final variant will apparently will sport sophisticated and subtle leather upholstered seats, power steering comes Bluetooth technology with phonebook transfer, heated rear and front seats. To add on more charm, the consumer will be offered an elective technology package that would comprise of features like keyless entry, touch screen infotainment interface, navigation system with real-time weather, traffic info and rear view camera. The car will comfortably seat five passengers.

EXTERIOR:-

    

The Hyundai Motor team has worked on the looks of the fifth generation Hyundai Elantra sedan. The major highlights of the new 2012 Hyundai Elantra is the narrowed down nose. The front end of the car has sharp and edgy curves, which make it look more stylish and trendy. The stretched out headlamps are brilliant and eye catchy. The grille has been improved and enhanced, which affects the entire front end of the car in a good way. The windscreen is smooth and features effective rain sensing wipers. The ‘Hyundai’ badge has been proudly placed in the centre of the nose, while the fog lamps are smartly positioned on the front edge of the wheel arches. Coming to the side profile of Hyundai Elantra, this sedan has body colored door handles, which give the car a very elegant look altogether. The top-end variant of 2012 Hyundai Elantra features the very charming and electrifying sunroof, which will let you enjoy the weather outside at its best. Moving towards the rear end of the car, the rear bumper has been held a bit high with prominent stop lamps. On the whole, the exteriors of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra are certainly outstanding and distinguished. The higher ground clearance along with small features like front and rear fog lamps, clear side view mirrors, elegant sunroof and beautiful wheel arches, which fit in alloy wheels complete the entire look of the sedan. 

The front face of the car boasts of all the lines flowing in the fluidic way. The air intake has been enhanced with chrome styling. The radiator grille with a centrally placed Hyundai logo and the air intake on the bumper form a hexagonal arrangement which is very bold in nature.

The angular finishing on the front bumper makes it a wide looking design. Since the design is aerodynamic and angular, the air flow is guided very well throughout the body.

Multi Focus clear lens headlamps form the USP of the vehicle and its design extends to the almost half that of the fender length. Also the fog lamps have been detailed very nicely in a trapezoidal fashion.

The combination design of front windshield, windows and rear wind shield are all part of the wind craft design concept. The proportionate dimensioning and shaping of wheel fenders, door panels and rear quarter panel with continuous running side character lines all give a bold and new look. The 16” 5 spoke alloy wheels gives the right blend of styling.

The Elongated combination tail lamp is designed with inserts of indicator and clear lens reverse light .It has been given sharp styling towards side panels and classic look from rear view. The broad rear bumpers with inserts on reflectors offer right kind of bulge on the boot door. The aerodynamic shape of the rear wind shield is the best offered in any premium car.

PERFORMANCE:-

The Neo Fluidic Elantra is available in two versions i.e. Petrol and diesel. The Petrol version comes with a 1797cc 4 cylinder engine delivering a power output of 149.5 PS at 6500rpm and a torque of 178Nm at 4700 rpm. Diesel version comes with a 1582cc 4 cylinder engine delivering a power output of 128PS at 4000RPM and a torque output of 260Nm at 2750rpm. 6 speed Manual transmission (MT) and a 6 speed Automatic transmission (AT) option are available for both the versions. Hyundai claims a mileage of 16.3 kmpl for petrol MT and 14.3 kmpl for petrol AT. In diesel version, the new Elantra gives 22.7 kmpl in MT and 19.1 kmpl in AT. 

2012 Hyundai Elantra is a stunning car, be it in terms of engine, power, mileage, interiors, exteriors or acceleration and pick-up. The petrol variant of the sedan has a top speed of 195 km per hour. On the other hand, the diesel version of 2012 Hyundai Elantra also has an excellent acceleration and pick- up and has a top speed of 190 km per hour, which is certainly impressive and notable. 

Petrol version price ranges from Rs.13 to 15.5 Lakhs and the diesel version ranges from 13.5 to 16.6 Lakh ex showroom Mumbai.

Driving the Neo Fluidic Elantra is a great experience. Inside the cabin, one can appreciate the new shape of the car and also the impression it endorses on road. Wide doors encourage easy ingress and egress. There is ample leg space and the fit and finish of the seats ensures the passengers experience the best of comfort.

The Neo Elantra Fluidic comes with a Start/Stop button. Once the ignition is switched on, the instrument cluster gets illuminated with informative features. A Digital shift indicator guides the driver to shift at proper engine rpms in order to get the optimum mileage.

The drive is as smooth as the sibling model Fluidic Verna. The powerful engine encourages one to drive at high speeds and is a very smooth performer. The drive experience of the Neo Fluidic Elantra is a pleasure because of the smooth pick up of the engine, helpful gear change indicator and ergonomically positioned rear view and cabin mirrors.

Suspension quality is good and one can feel best of comfort even during humps or ditches etc. The interior fit and finish are impressively good. Overall, one has to experience the amazing power, ease and comfort of handling the car. We had taken the car for a test drive in city limits and will soon provide a detailed review.

Rear seats are wide and comfortable, with an attention to the back support, head rest etc. Audio controls switch are provided in the arm rest too. The Hyundai Neo Elantra Fluidic has an amazing storage space.

The Hyundai Neo Elantra Fluidic not only offers the best in class styling with the fluidic exteriors but also provides fantastic interiors. The quality of fit and finish is amazing.

RIDE AND HANDLING:-

This car has gone under some changes especially for Indian conditions. This car is very suitable for city conditions. Its power steering is very light and gives you a pleasant ride in traffic. Its long wheelbase along with R16 size of tyres allows it to hold the road firmly. Cornering in this car is very delightful as it feels very balanced with its strong front suspension. It’s a very comfortable car to be in. Even on high speeds its cabin is extremely sound proof. When you are driving in city it will give no reason to complain but when you are on highways, its rear suspension and steering wheel disappoints you. If you are changing lanes quickly its poor rear suspension is noticeable and sometimes the car feels detached from its steering.

BRAKING:-

2012 Hyundai Elantra sedan is complete in its own way. Hyundai Motors India knows it very well that how important is the safety of the car and the passengers. Therefore, the company has strongly concentrated on the braking and handling segment of the car by providing the sedan with four wheel disc brakes, which are very responsive and active. To add on more safety via brakes, the company has installed the ABS or anti-lock braking system with brake assist, traction control and stability control. These systems allow the car to react quickly and intelligently in case of any accident or collision. The ABS prevents the tyres from skidding on the wet and damp road.

STEREO AND ACCESSORIES:-

Music is one of the main parts of the entertainment segment of a car and Hyundai Motors India hasn’t forgotten the part. The new 2012 Hyundai Elantra comes with a terrific sound system (MP3/CD player) with AUX-in, iPod and USB audio interface. The six speakers are evenly spread in the car, so that every passenger gets the feel of music equally. The steering has audio controls mounted on it, which makes it easy for the driver to handle the music system. Besides the impressive sound system, this lush and plush sedan is accompanied with so many accessories that truly signify its luxury status. The air conditioner with automatic climate control, adjustable power steering, power windows and most importantly the noteworthy 7-inches of navigation system that has high resolution touch screen display is astonishing. The rear view camera certainly offers much convenience to the driver while reversing the car. 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION:-

Hyundai Elantra Variants

Variants	Transmission	Engine Description	Mileage		Power	AC	Power Steering	Central Locking
			City	Highway
SX (Petrol)	Manual	1797cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	13.1	16.3	147.5bhp @ 6500rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard
S (Petrol)	Manual	1797cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	13.1	16.3	147.5bhp @ 6500rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard
SX AT (Petrol)	Automatic	1797cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	11.2	14.5	147.5bhp @ 6500rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard
CRDi SX (Diesel)	Manual	1582cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	19.5	22.7	126.3bhp @ 4000rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard
CRDi SX AT(Diesel)	Automatic	1582cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	16.3	19.5	126.3bhp @ 4000rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard
CRDi S (Diesel)	Manual	1582cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	19.5	22.7	126.3bhp @ 4000rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard
CRDi Base (Diesel)	Manual	1582cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	19.5	22.7	126.3bhp @ 4000rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard

VERDICT:-

Elantra will get tough competition from Renault Fluence. A new variant of the Fluence was launched recently and is also getting good bookings. Other cars like Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze have already established themselves in the same segment and would offer great competition

With the launch of Neo Fluidic Elantra, Hyundai has filled the gap in the range of Rs.13 .5 to Rs.17 Lakh. The Fluidic Verna sits below this range and the new Sonata above it. The excellent service back up from Hyundai would enhance the confidence of the customers in choosing the Neo Fluidic Elantra over other options.