OpenRoad Driver Volume 13 Issue 1 | Page 67

Volume 13 Issue 1 » 67 2017 Hyundai Elantra » Aerospace adhesives have long been used to replace or augment spot welds and fasteners. The new Elantra has 394 feet of robotically applied adhesive glue bead versus only 10 feet in the previous car. The new chassis has also been heavily composed of advanced high-strength steel. Hyundai is so confident in the improved torsional rigidity in the 2017 model that they have dubbed it their “SuperStructure.” While only an inch longer on the outside than its predecessor, the new Elantra offers over two inches more rear legroom, making the cabin feel much like a mid-sized sedan rather than a compact car. A new 2.0-litre 147-hp four-cylinder engine has been fitted to most models, and can be paired up with a conventional six-speed automatic transmission. Efficiency-minded buyers can opt for the Eco model, which is equipped with a 1.4-litre 128-hp four-cylinder unit, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The new Elantra also offers sophisticated electronic driver aids normally found in cars a class above, adding forward-collision warning with auto-braking, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure correction. Photo by Hyundai Canada All-new from the ground up for the 2017 model year, Hyundai’s latest Elantra grows up, offering advanced safety features, more room, and more refinement.