Sunday, August 1, 2010

Hyundai Avante MD (Elantra Mk.V)



Since its world premiere at the Busan International Motor Show at BEXCO, the Avante (known worldwide as the Elantra) received an eagerly awaited full model change after spending four years with the previous Avante HD (while this platform still be used on the Avante LPI Hybrid, now on its 2011 model year) that was based on the axed Kia Cerato.

Being a true rival to the Kia Forte seems to be a trump act to follow, the new Avante is now better than the best thanks to the Wind Craft concept as part of Hyundai's fluidic sculpture philosophy and the brand's first GDi 1.6L engine that makes the Avante the best Korean eco car manufactured.

What is Wind Craft?
As part of Hyundai Motor Company's design philosophy "fluidic sculpture", the new Avante MD's exterior is biased on the Wind Craft concept design. If we want to know why Wind Craft is described on the Avante's exterior is, it is simple. Try examining the front face, the new Avante is somewhat similar to the latest Tucson ix crossover, and if you look closely to the back, the Avante is much more of a miniature version of the Sonata YF. With the Wind Craft design concept, the new Avante provides a strikingly aggressive look that scares away the Kia Forte for good. This applies the same as the interior as well.



What is the GDi 1.6L engine?
For the first time in Hyundai Motor Company's history, the new 1.6 GDi engine equipped on the new MD Avante made this compact car a true fuel-efficient eco car that is worthy enough to prove that even Koreans create eco cars more than Japanese car makers do. About this new GDi engine, the power output is 140PS/6300 rpm that has more power than the Kia Forte's 124PS found on the 1.6L engine. By gaining a eco car status, the new Avante's fuel economy reached to a modest 16.5km/L, which means that fuel economy is also greater than the Kia Forte's 15.2km/L found on the 1.6L engine. This is how so many reasons Koreans are ready to switch to the new Avante thanks to its advantages of a true eco car.

My thoughts about the Avante:
When Japanese car manufacturers focused on creating eco cars, Koreans are never left behind making eco cars targeted for its fuel efficiency. With the new GDi 1.6L engine equipped, the new Avante shines on the battle of the eco cars that makes car manufacturers as participants of the Battle of the Brains. I am truly sure which car manufacturer has the brains to create fuel-efficient cars. Look around them, Honda has the CR-Z, Nissan has the March, Mitsubishi readies the i-MiEV, and other brands readying their fuel-efficient eco cars to show which has the brains. The new Avante truly has the potential of being a staunch eco car targeted for the masses and if that is enough, the Philippines might have a chance of getting the Avante as the Elantra and if I price it, the new Avante will cost 1.8 million Pesos as I speak.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

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