Busan 2010: Avante Is Korean For Elantra

The unveiling of the Genesis sedan and Coupe, the new Tucson, new Sonata, new Accent, and now finally the Elantra; Hyundai has been on quite a roll lately with new product, and is anxious to continue that trend. The Korean manufacturer took the wraps off the South Korean-market Avante, which is destined to become the U.S.-market Elantra, at the 2010 Busan International Auto Show.

It isn’t hard to see where the design inspiration for the Avante/Elantra came from. Hyundai’s “fluidic” design language is in full effect, and offers a very clear family resemblance to the Sonata.

The Avante/Elantra promises to be a strong contender in the compact sedan market, with advanced features such as heated front and rear seats, HID headlights, LED taillights, and most notably a six-speed automatic transmission mated to the new 1.6-liter Gamma inline-four with direct injection which was unveiled last week in Beijing. The Gamma GDI produces 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque.

Please scroll down for official Hyundai press release.

Hyundai Unveils All-New Avante at Busan Motor Show

• World-premier of new Avante compact, Hyundai’s global best-seller
• Featuring 1.6L Gamma GDI engine, 6-speed automatic

(Busan, Korea) Hyundai Motor Co. had its world-premier of the all-new Avante compact sedan, the company’s best-selling model worldwide, at the Busan International Motor Show 2010 today.

“The new Avante encompasses Hyundai’s latest ambitions, featuring the best styling and performance in its class,” Steve S. Yang, President & CEO of Hyundai’s Global Business Division, said at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) today. “We’re confident that it will once again redefine the compact segment worldwide.”

With sportier and even more elegant lines than its predecessor, the new Avante – badged as Elantra in markets outside Korea – continues Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design philosophy.

Hyundai has applied its latest 1.6L Gamma Gasoline Direct Injection engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front-wheel drive compact, the first time GDI and six-speed automatic have been featured on a compact sedan in Korea. The new Avante delivers a peak output of 140ps and maximum torque of 17.0kg•m. It is also about 10 percent more fuel efficient than its closest competitors, thanks to GDI, the six speed automatic and other fuel economy enhancements.

The new Avante will delight and surprise with a raft of other advanced features not found on other compacts, including HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps, LED combination lamps in the rear, heated rear seats, puddle lamps and a color TFT LCD information display nestled in the gauge cluster.

Under the Avante/Elantra badge, Hyundai has sold over 6 million units worldwide since the car’s launch in 1990. Hyundai will begin sales of the all-new Avante in the second half of 2010 in Korea.

At a separate commercial vehicle booth, Hyundai displayed a hydrogen fuel-cell electric bus and a Universe Limousine luxury coach, among other displays.

Hyundai’s New 1.6L Gamma GDI Engine

Hyundai displayed its all-new 1.6L Gamma GDI engine in Busan today, which it first showed in Beijing auto show last week. It is the smallest member of the Hyundai gasoline engine family to benefit from the application of Gasoline Direct Injection technology. With the help of GDI, this four-cylinder powermill develops 140ps, an approximately 13 percent improvement over a conventional 1.6L Gamma fed by MPI. GDI technology doesn’t only boost power output: It also improves fuel economy while lowering emissions. The new Gamma also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing, a Variable Induction System and exotic anti-friction coatings such as CrN Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating and Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating.

For more information, please go to www.thenewsmarket.com/hyundaimotor, where you can find images & videos of the all-new Avante and other Hyundai products launched at motor shows.

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group which was ranked as the world’s fifth-largest automaker since 2007 and includes over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Employing over 75,000 people worldwide, Hyundai Motor sold approximately 3.1 million vehicles globally in 2009, posting sales of US$41.8 billion (including overseas plants, using the average currency exchange rate of 1,276 won per US dollar). Hyundai vehicles are sold in 193 countries through some 6,000 dealerships and showrooms. Further information about Hyundai Motor and its products are available at www.hyundai.com.