While the international version of the Hyundai
Elantra sedan/saloon has enjoyed a large-scale update recently, its Chinese
counterpart has only received a new 1.5l, 115-hp engine along with a
few cosmetic touches. Today, it turned out that Hyundai had another ace in its
sleeve for China: a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The new Hyundai Elantra PHEV comes powered by the
same arrangement of engines as the Ioniq liftback,
specifically, a 1.6-liter gasoline engine (105 hp) joining forces with
a modest electric motor (61 hp). The transmission type is six-speed
DCT, and the fuel consumption is 4.2l / 100 km (67 MPG-UK, 56 MPG-US).
Unlike the Ioniq, the Elantra PHEV packs a much
larger 12.9 kWh battery, which is reportedly sufficient for 85 kilometers of uninterrupted all-electric driving. In purely visual terms, you can
tell the electrified saloon from its gas-powered cousin by the new bumpers,
wheels, radiator grille, and charging socket located on the left fender. The
cabin, on the other hand, is almost identical, unless you count a few extra
controls and a new power indicator where the tachometer used to be.
Clients in China will be able to buy a Hyundai
Elantra PHEV starting at US$ 28,000, however, applying for a state subsidy
can shave up to US$ 5,500 off the price tag. The gas-powered model currently ships
for US$ 15,600.
