Hyundai 'i35' hits the road

New images and specifications of the Hyundai Avante sedan, successor to the Elantra, have been snapped in Korea, shedding more light on the new model's contemporary design and fuel efficiency.

Hyundai has confirmed the new model will be coming to Australia in sometime in 2011, currently codenamed MD, where it sell alongside the i30 hatch.

Expected to rival small sedans such as the Holden Cruze, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and Mazda3, the Hyundai 'MD' is a big leap forward in terms of design when compared to the outgoing Elantra, its so-called 'Fluidic sculpture' styling boosting the car's visual presence.

A new direct-injection petrol engine will be offered when the new model arrives on local shores in 2011, paired with an optional auto, possibly a six-speed unit. The engine destined for Oz is expected to be a new generation 1.6-litre four-banger that will debut on the Korean model, generating 103kW/167Nm which stacks up well against the Corolla's 100kW/175Nm 2.0-litre engine.

Hyundai has previously claimed the new engine will be around 10 per cent more efficient than its direct competitors, and new specifications confirm this: It has a fuel consumption rating of 5.9L/100km with a manual transmission and 6.0L/100km with the automatic.

Carbon dioxide exhaust emissions are not yet known but going on the fuel consumption figures it could be one of the greenest cars in its class.

Further information to emerge includes the Hyundai MD's dimensions: Measuring 4530mm long and 1775mm wide it's in the same ballpark as the Holden Cruze (4597mm long and 1788mm wide), and sits on a wheelbase of 2700mm.

Hyundai hasn't settled on a name for the new 2011 Elantra/Avante sedan for the Australian market just yet, with Hyundai's Senior Manager for Product Communications & PR, Ben Hershman, previously telling the Carsales Network "...we're in the process of reviewing [naming] options with HMC. In some markets, like Korea, it's called Avante."

However it's unlikely the contemporary small sedan will be named Avante in Australia. The Korean car maker's most recent models have been named i30, i45 and ix35. If bookies were taking bets on a new name, the i35 would be odds on favourite.

The new Hyundai 'MD' will push the technology envelope at the budget end of the small sedan market as well, boasting LED tail-lights and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, plus a colour LCD screen integrated within the instrument cluster.

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