2011 ELANTRA : new design and new engine ...

[fnkngrv]

looks very similar to the new Sonata really...kind of like how Toyota was using simliar front ends for the yaris sedan, camry, and avalon there for a couple years.

[Kal-El]

Very impressive, just like every car Hyundai puts out these days.

They are quickly becoming my potential alternative choice to Toyota. Dare I say. It's clearly happening - Toyota and Honda (and everyone else except Ford) almost seem to be moving at a snails pace, while Hyundai is a fast moving train. Their progress in the last 10 years is completely unprecedented. Impossible by most standards. The Korean automaker is the hungriest of them all, and have the cheap resources to work miracles. The whole rest of the industry must not doubt that Hyundai could rise to the worlds largest automaker. Perhaps still unlikely, but I would not be surprised in 15 years.

I also love how Hyundai and Kia (same company) are running with very different design directions. Hyundai is fluid, Kia is angular and aggressive. Very smart.

This car makes everything else in the segment look boring, including the interior (at least until the stunning 2012 Focus comes out).

[vwtech]

I am very impressed with hyundai as well. I agree with most everyone about toyota making some of the most bland sedans but they are very reliable and have die hard customers.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by toyo

great looking! hope they improved realiability as well

The 2007-2010 Elantra is a very high quality car. Reliability has been excellent.
Expect this new one though, to be an even further leap forward.

Originally Posted by Treyz

I dont get Hyundai .. they change their designs every 2-4 years ... normally, it's 5-6

Hyundai has never replaced cars at a 2 or 3 year clip. They are working with 4 year cycles while most mainstream cars use 5 year cycles. Trucks and luxury cars typically go 5 or 6 or more.

The current Elantra went 4 years (it does seem like less but it has been out as long as the Yaris). A new Yaris will drop one year later for 2012.

Hyundai is able to do this due to cheaper labor costs and material costs. And their drive to become the best doesn't hurt.

Originally Posted by fnkngrv

looks very similar to the new Sonata really...kind of like how Toyota was using simliar front ends for the yaris sedan, camry, and avalon there for a couple years.

Most companies follow design themes. You don't want to be all over the place when it comes to corporate design. Companies need an identity. Still, these latest Hyundai designs still are quite distinctive enough to not just be re-sized versions of one car.