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2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport aims to be the Korean Jetta GLI

We've had a good idea of what the upcoming Elantra Sport would be like thanks to Hyundai's reveal of the Avante Sport, the quicker version of the Elantra's Korean-market twin. Now we know just how similar the two are: essentially identical. The Elantra Sport features a turbocharged 1.6-liter four cylinder engine that anyone familiar with the Veloster Turbo will recognize. Oddly though, at 200 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque, the engine is rated 1 horsepower and 5 lb-ft of torque less than either the turbo Veloster or Avante. The front-wheel drive Elantra Sport can also be ordered with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual clutch transmission. We're happy to report the Elantra Sport and its Avante twin will share a new multi-link rear suspension. This replaces the less sophisticated torsion bar suspension and will hopefully contribute to more agile handling. Hyundai did not announce whether the Avante Sport's optional "extreme package" anti-roll bars, springs and shocks would be available in the States. We certainly hope they will at least be an option. The Avante Sport and Elantra Sport will also share exterior and interior updates. These updates give the fastest Elantra a subtle, classy look. Larger intake vents, a rear diffuser panel, larger wheels and slightly extended ground effects all say sporty without shouting it. The theme continues inside with red stitching on the flat-bottom steering wheel and more aggressive "sport" seats. The Elantra Sport also finds itself in an odd position. Many of the performance cars in its size segment have moved up in power. There are some small sedans that come close to the Elantra Sport's 200 ponies such as the turbocharged Honda Civic, 2.5-liter Mazda3 and the lame-duck 2.4-liter Dodge Dart. But when it comes to enthusiast-oriented small sedans with at least 200 horses, there's only one true option: the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. In fact, the 210-horsepower GLI matches the Elantra Sport quite nicely, as it also features subtle styling and just enough sportiness to feel special. Hyundai has yet to announce pricing, but if it undercuts the German veteran by a significant margin, it could become a bargain choice for the driver who wants some, but not too much, fun. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport View 19 Photos Image Credit: Hyundai Hyundai Performance Sedan turbocharged jetta gli

2019 Hyundai Elantra gets angular new styling, safety options

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra compact sedan has received a pretty radical refresh for a relatively conservative car. The rounded front fascia of the current model has given way to a face full of sharp corners. The headlights and fog lights are now triangles, and the grille is sharper. The headlights intersect the grille, too. There are some nice details in this new design. The base of the headlights match up with the top-most slat in the grille, and the lights intersect the grille at some of the grille's top corners. Two new creases on the hood also line up with vertical slats in the grille. The rear of the car is updated, too, if not as radically. The taillights get sharpened corners, as well as downward extensions on the outside edges. The illuminated parts are crisp zigzagging lines that match the nose. The license plate housing has been moved from the trunk lid to the bumper, and large Elantra lettering stretches across the lid. This mirrors the design of the current Sonata midsize sedan. Overall, the design changes are reasonably attractive, though they don't seem to fit especially well with the flanks of the car, which retain the softer, more organic lines of the current car. There are a number of other small updates as far as features are concerned with the Elantra. Hyundai now includes camera-based forward collision prevention, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention alert as standard equipment on the second-lowest SEL trim and above. All trim levels also get a 5-inch touchscreen as standard along with a rear-view camera and dynamic guidelines on the screen. The base SE model with a manual transmission finally gets Bluetooth and steering wheel controls, too. The top-end Limited gets an 8-speaker sound system with subwoofer, Qi wireless phone charging and Safe Exit Assist, which warns drivers of approaching cars when the door is open. What doesn't change is under the skin. The naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes the same 147 horsepower as last year, and the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine still produces 128 horsepower. The 201-horsepower Elantra Sport is completely unchanged in regards to powertrain and exterior. Hyundai says that a restyled version will appear later this year. Pricing for the refreshed Hyundai Elantra has not yet been announced. It goes on sale this fall, and pricing should come just before it hits dealers. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Hyundai Elantra View 36 Photos News Source: Hyundai Hyundai Economy Cars Sedan

Hyundai taps Lamborghini exec to lead Genesis brand

If Hyundai is serious about going after the big boys with the launch of its new Genesis brand, it's going to need the right people with experience in the luxury marketplace to pull it off. Fortunately it appears to have found just the man for the job. His name is Manfred Fitzgerald, and he'll be running the Korean automaker's new luxury brand starting next month. Fitzgerald was formerly director of brand and design at Lamborghini, where he worked for 12 years before leaving to start his own consultancy. As the latest Senior Vice President at Hyundai, he'll be tasked with leading the "brand strategy, marketing, and other business operations" for the Genesis brand. That means working closely with Luc Donckerwolke, who – having penned for a number of Volkswagen divisions including Lamborghini as well – recently left his post as head of design at Bentley to run Hyundai's new Prestige Design Division (which will handle the styling for all future Genesis vehicles). Donckerwolke works under Peter Schreyer, who – as chief design officer at Hyundai and one of three presidents of Kia – is the highest-ranked foreigner at the company. Schreyer is also a former VW Group man, having designed the original Audi TT and the Volkswagen New Beetle before leaving for South Korea. One year ago, Hyundai similarly tapped Albert Biermann – formerly head engineer at BMW M GmbH – to run its new performance division. Hyundai Motor Announces Manfred Fitzgerald to lead the Genesis Brand - Manfred Fitzgerald takes role of leading the Genesis brand - Genesis brand targets the global luxury car market by appointing a prominent figure that transformed Lamborghini into a luxury car brand December 28, 2015 – Hyundai Motor announced Manfred Fitzgerald, former Director of Brand and Design at Lamborghini, to lead the Genesis brand from January, 2016. Based in Hyundai Motor Headquarters Seoul, Mr. Fitzgerald will be in charge of establishing and executing strategies for the Genesis brand as the Senior Vice President. For the brand to set a strong foothold in the global luxury car market, he will take a core role in brand strategy, marketing and other business operations within the Genesis brand. During his twelve year career at Lamborghini, Mr. Fitzgerald played a pivotal role in transforming Lamborghini from a prototype car company to a luxury car brand and increased its sales ten folds as the Director of Brand and Design. Mr.