The 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe Takes On The Compact Coupe Segment
Chris Bernius -
CleanMPG - Feb 9, 2012
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra sedan won the North American Car of the Year award last month in Detroit. Now Hyundai builds on this winning design with a new Sport Coupe.
Hyundai introduced a new sport coupe variant to its industry-leading Elantra line-up at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. This is a two-door coupe model of the Elantra sedan, and will be available late spring. Hyundai is confident that this new coupe will attract even more buyers to the Elantra line-up, further expanding its appeal to coupe buyers. It offers many of the same attributes that made the sedan version a sales success, while broadening its market reach to young buyers willing to trade four-door versatility for the design appeal of a coupe. The 2013 Elantra Coupe marks the continuing evolution of Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design theme with sporty design language, while assuming a compact coupe segment leadership position with an eco-efficient powertrain, generous convenience features, the same essential interior space of the sedan, and abundant safety features.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2013 ELANTRA COUPE- Unique Fluidic Sculpture - two-door coupe design language, with unique front and rear fascias.
- 1.8-liter Nu Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) engine
- In-house-developed six-speed manual and automatic transmissions
- EPA estimated 40-mpg highway rating on M/T model. That is eleven percent more fuel efficient than Honda Civic Coupe M/T
- Longer wheelbase, overall length and width than Civic Coupe for a more comfortable, roomy interior cabin
- Standard VSM, ESC, TCS, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD
- Available 7-inch touch-screen navigation with rearview camera
- Six speaker AM/FM/XM audio system with CD/MP3 drive and iPod�/USB inputs
- Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition
- Available proximity-key entry with electronic push-button start
The Elantra Coupe is the fourth vehicle in Hyundai's 7/11 product initiative (seven new models in the next eleven months), following the Azera, Genesis Coupe, and Elantra GT.
FLUIDIC SCULPTURE DESIGN LANGUAGE
Elantra Coupe takes Hyundais Fluidic Sculpture design to the next level. Fluidic Sculpture design language is described as the replication of the interaction of wind with rigid surfaces to create a perception of fluid in motion.
Hyundai's signature hexagonal front fascia opening and jeweled swept-back headlights give Elantra Coupe a more aggressive "face" than the sedan. Fog lights and available side mirror repeater lamps complement the frontal view.
From the side, Elantra Coupe wears the familiar wedge silhouette with deeply sculpted surfaces. The uplevel SE model features five-spoke 17-inch alloys with dark spoke inserts. While fast A- and C-pillar angles frame a sharply tapered roofline, there is no significant loss in interior headroom.
From the rear, a blacked-out rear diffuser valance contrasts with the dual chrome-tipped exhaust outlets. The SE model deck lid incorporates a lip spoiler design element.
The sculpted surfaces complement a very aerodynamic body. The drag coefficient for the Elantra Coupe is an exceptionally low 0.28 Cd, resulting in minimal cabin wind noise intrusion and better fuel economy. Elantra Coupe was designed at Hyundai's North American Design Center in Irvine, Calif.
40-MPG POWERTRAIN
Under the hood, the Elantra Coupe is powered by the same 1.8-liter "Nu" four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque (both estimated) found in the Elantra sedan (PZEV slightly lower - 145 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque). This efficient 4-cylinder engine puts out a full six percent more horsepower than the Civic Coupe 1.8-liter. Thanks to advanced clean engine technology, most Elantra Coupes sold in California, Oregon and several Northeast states are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) by the EPA. The PZEV Elantra Coupe is as clean as many hybrid electric vehicles, without the extra technological complexity and cost. The PZEV Elantra Coupe helps Hyundai meet and exceed its environmental requirements. Outside of these �green� states, the Elantra Coupe is available as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).
Elantra Coupe's fuel economy is estimated at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway for the six-speed manual transmission, and 28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway for the six-speed automatic transmission. These ratings give Elantra Coupe a highway-only driving range of up to 500 miles.
The six forward ratios in both the manual and automatic transmissions are shared between the Elantra coupe and sedan, and the final drive ratios are the same. The tire size are the same. The drag coefficient is the same. The coupe is anywhere from 15 to 25 pounds lighter than the sedan. Reading between the lines, the 2013 Elantra coupe should allow the same excellent fuel economy noted during recent CleanMPG reviews of the Elantra sedan.
COUPE STYLE WITH SEDAN ROOM
Outside, the Elantra coupe is not quite half an inch longer than the sedan. Wheelbase, height, width, wheel track and ground clearance are identical.
Inside, though, is where most coupe designs sacrifice interior room relative to their sedan counterparts. Comparing the manufacturer specifications for the coupe and sedan, The front head/leg/shoulder room are the same, and the coupe gives up 0.7 inches in hip room. The rear seat, where most coupes compromise room and comfort, the Elantra coupe actually gains 0.2 inches of legroom and 0.4 inches of hip room while losing 0.3 inches of shoulder room. Headroom is the same for both coupe and sedan. Cargo space is the same for both body styles as well.
EPA Volume (cu ft)
Coupe - Passenger 95.4, Cargo 14.8, Total 110.2
Sedan - Passenger 95.6, Cargo 14.8, Total 110.4
The 2013 Elantra Coupe is certainly positioned to be a serious competitor in the compact coupe market segment.
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