Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has teased the all-new Hyundai Elantra once again on its Facebook page, this time revealing the engine and transmission combination that will be used in the upcoming C-segment sedan.
According to the attached press release, the Hyundai Elantra slated for Malaysia will be equipped with a 1.6-litre SmartStream G1.6 MPi naturally-aspirated engine, which is good for 123 hp and 154 Nm of torque.
The petrol mill will be paired to Hyundai’s new Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) gearbox, which is essentially a CVT with eight virtual gears, but is driven by a chain belt instead of regular push belt. Hyundai says that the change not only improves response and “reproduces the manual transmission’s shifting pattern”, but also reduces engine power loss (5-8%), at the same time improving fuel economy (4.2%).
Compared to the outgoing model which packs a 2.0-litre Nu MPI engine, power output has actually gone down by 29 hp and 38 Nm. The all-new Hyundai Elantra’s engine output figures are also slightly on the low side when compared to its segment rivals, such as the Toyota Corolla (139 hp, 172 Nm) and Honda Civic (1.8S: 141 hp, 174 Nm; 1.5TC: 173 hp, 220 Nm).
It remains to be seen if the 2.0-litre SmartStream engine will also make its way onto our local unit. Paired to the same IVT transmission, the 2.0-litre Hyundai Elantra makes 159 hp and 191 Nm of torque.
We are wish-casting at this point, but if HSDM is intending to replace the much-beloved but sadly discontinued Hyundai Elantra Sport, the Hyundai Elantra N Line, which features a turbocharged version of the same 1.6-litre SmartStream engine with 201 hp and 264 Nm under the hood, will be a perfect candidate – and will blow almost all of its competitors out of the water. Better yet – it is also available in a six-speed manual transmission!
There are still many details left in the dark for our local Hyundai Elantra, which will only be revealed nearer to the launch date – stay tuned as we bring you the latest developments.
