The 2017 Hyundai Elantra has been revealed at the LA Motor Show overnight with an Australian on-sale arrival expected in the first-quarter of next year (2016).

THE 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has been revealed at the LA Motor Show marking the arrival of the sixth-generation Elantra to hit the road. An Australian release is expect early next year with local details and pricing to be confirmed closer to the launch.

This sixth-generation Elantra will be built in two locations, Montgomery, Alabama and Ulsan, South Korea, with the Korean car maker saying it offers “a bold aerodynamic design with sophisticated styling, all-new efficient powertrains for enhanced fuel economy, better ride quality and noise insulation, and comprehensive safety with class-above features”.

The new Elantra gets Hyundai’s new-look signature hexagonal grille which was first rolled out on the Tucson. In the US, at least, the “modern lighting signatures” will include HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Lights and vertical LED daytime running lights, which are firsts for Elantra. Elements of the front skirt have been borrowed from Sonata Hybrid and help to channel air flow around the front of the car to minimise turbulence and wind resistance. In addition, underbody covers, an aerodynamic rear bumper bottom spoiler and rear decklid designed with an expanded trunk edge contribute to Elantra’s 0.27 coefficient of drag.

The 2017 Elantra will be offered in eight exterior colours, five of which are new to the model. Elantra’s overall length has increased by just under 25mm and its proportions are further enhanced by increasing its width by 25mm, presenting a more athletic stance and stable appearance.

2017 Elantra Improved Proportions

There’s plenty to say about the interior, but it’s the chassis that’s probably the most interesting development for the new Elantra as it also gives us a glimpse of what we can expect to see underneath the soon-to-be-refreshed i30.

Thanks to greater use of lightweight, high-tensile steel, the new Elantra is lighter than the outgoing model. And the greater use of light, strong steel means the body structure is 29.5% stiffer and offers 25.3% more bending strength, “which bring improvements in vehicle ride and handling, quietness, durability and driving performance”. All of the weld spots offer 40 times more adhesive strength, too.

The Elantra’s has had its rear suspension geometry redesigned which has modified the angle of the rear shock absorbers and changed the position of the coil springs on the coupled torsion beam axle. Rear bushings have been beefed up to improve durability. Elantra’s front suspension uses an optimally designed MacPherson strut with coil springs and gas shock absorbers along with a front stabiliser bar to help reduce body roll when cornering.

Under the bonnet, two engines will be available, although whether both will be available in Australia remains to be seen. The standard engine available on the base SE and Limited trim is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an Atkinson cycle producing an estimated peak 110kW at 6200rpm and 179Nm of torque at 4500rpm. Fuel consumption is expected to be a combined 7.1L/100km. The second powertrain is an all-new 1.4-litre Kappa turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine which won’t be available at launch (available from US Spring 2016). This engine produces 95kW at 5500rpm and 211Nm of torque at 1400 – 3700rpm and will be mated to an EcoShift seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

For techno-geeks, there will be two extra-cost infotainment units available featuring a 7.0-inch Display Audio touchscreen system with rearview camera, and another offering Hyundai’s next-generation 8.0-inch navigation system. Both multimedia systems are equipped with Android Auto, streaming audio, voice-controlled search capabilities, plus any approved smartphone apps. Since smartphone integration requires a wired connection to the vehicle, Elantra provides an available second USB port for charging – the first application on a Hyundai vehicle.

The new Elantra also offers the next-generation Hyundai Blue Link system with enhanced safety, service and infotainment telematics. Blue Link offers Remote Start w/ Climate Control, Destination Search powered by Google, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Car Finder, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, and Stolen Vehicle Recovery. Blue Link can be easily accessed from the buttons on the rearview mirror, the web or via smartphone app. Some of these features can even be controlled via the latest Android Wear and new Apple Watch smartwatch offerings.

2017 Elantra Class-Above Interior Volume

We’ll have more Australian-specific information closer to the release of the new Elantra in 2016.