The one thing that Hyundai still isn't associated with in India though is sportiness. While those looking for a sporty hatchback or a sedan still turn to manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki or Volkswagen, Hyundai is known more for its easy to drive nature and comfortable ride. Of course, internationally, Hyundai does make a few select sporty iterations of their cars, like the i20 N-Sport and the Veloster, none of these is available in India due to their price points.
Hyundai Elantra Sport Rear
With both diesel and petrol engines on offer, the Elantra does offer a lot of bang for your buck but again, as with most of its cars in India, this Hyundai sedan is not known for its sportiness - until now. Hyundai has internationally unveiled a new variant in the Elantra lineup and this time, the only thing that the Korean car maker has concentrated on is making this very balanced and comfortable sedan sporty.
Hyundai Elantra Sport Cabin
Let's start with the engine. The 1.6-litre turbo has been tweaked and tuned to make 201bhp, which is an increase of over 50bhp over the standard car. Torque too is up to 265Nm and the Elantra Sport gets both a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Other mechanical changes include a larger 12-inch cross-drilled disc up front, larger stabiliser bars and a retuned steering system. The Elantra Sport also gets a brand new multi-link suspension in the rear to improve traction.
Hyundai has also extensively worked on the acoustics of the Elantra Sport. The new exhaust system is just loud enough to be street legal in the United States (for pass-by regulations) while the air intake box has less baffling to allow for a more aggressive intake growl. The sporty exhaust combined with the larger bumpers and bigger wheels does give the Elantra a lot more appeal than the standard car we get here in India.
So is India ready for a sporty Hyundai? The Elantra already offers a good package and now with the new engine and suspension, the Sport could be a great alternative for someone looking for a quick yet understated 'everyday' sports sedan. The fact that no one in this segment offers packages like this should give the Elantra a good head start. The Elantra Sport will also be a good alternative to the Skoda Octavia VRS which is slated to be launched very soon. All said and done, although a very niche audience, there is definitely a select set of people who want a quick everyday car that rides well, is well equipped and more importantly, well priced.
