2012 Hyundai Elantra 40mpg highway

[tjl]

According to this Autoblog post, the entire 2012 Hyundai Elantra line will make 40mpg highway. A 29mpg city number was also mentioned.

While the Elantra, like the Cruze is bigger in both size and MSRP, it does seem that the fuel economy wars are in full swing. Perhaps stimulated by the 2008 fuel price spike -- we are now seeing the results of the research and development that may have been induced by that fuel price spike.

[iamz]

Originally Posted by tjl

According to this Autoblog post, the entire 2012 Hyundai Elantra line will make 40mpg highway. A 29mpg city number was also mentioned.

While the Elantra, like the Cruze is bigger in both size and MSRP, it does seem that the fuel economy wars are in full swing. Perhaps stimulated by the 2008 fuel price spike -- we are now seeing the results of the research and development that may have been induced by that fuel price spike.

And future mandates.

[GapBoyPCS]

The Elantra and Cruze are more of the C-segment -- the one occupied by the Focus. So, really, the main competition is with the Focus.

Another reason with the whole fuel economy selling point is that there's beginning to be a shift (again) to environmental protection. Using less gas means fewer emissions, less smog, fewer drilling expeditions in seas that could go wrong and damage an entire ecosyste, etc.

However, with these fuel economy numbers it could make for vehicles in the B-segment (the Fiesta, Accent, etc.) a harder sell just purely on fuel economy. Naturally, if a car buyer were to just look at fuel economy alone, the argument will creep in why s/he should pay for a loaded B-segment car when there's a fairly "base" C-segment car that's the same price and get the same fuel economy.

[Bobby]

...it's a good thing when cars in all segments get 40mpg, there's room for efficiency in all sizes and segments. However, once (high) mpg is basically standardized, then other factors come into play, like size, engineering, features, style, etc. In the past, people looking for high MPH had to go small, perhaps smaller than they needed, having sacrificed size for economy. Now, people will make more rational, balanced choices based on other automotive needs.

I bought the Fiesta (in addition to great mpg) b/c of it's rational size for my needs, it's engineering, and it's style. I could have gotten 'More' car with just about the same mpg with the Focus, but chose not to. I think many made the choice the same way.

With high MPG across the line, i think smaller cars will still be purchased in good numbers by those that need/want the size, and the larger cars won't canabalize sales b/c people will be buying them for reasons other than mpg.

[PowerShift]

Wow! I had no idea a c-class car would exceed the Fiesta's fuel economy so soon. I figured it would be more like 26/37. Ford really has it's work cut out for it with the Focus now.

[tjl]

Originally Posted by GapBoyPCS

Another reason with the whole fuel economy selling point is that there's beginning to be a shift (again) to environmental protection. Using less gas means fewer emissions, less smog, fewer drilling expeditions in seas that could go wrong and damage an entire ecosyste, etc.

Perhaps in Canada that is the case, but there is a pretty big backlash in the US against environmental stuff among conservatives, so it is unlikely that environmentalism is that big a deal when choosing a car in the US (other than those who were already buying fuel efficient cars for that reason). But people put politics aside and listen when it comes to their own money going into the fuel tank.

[PowerShift]

They released official info today.

Officially Official: 2011 Hyundai Elantra brings "fluidic sculpture" to the C segment — Autoblog

Curiously, it does not have direct injection, which makes its MPG numbers all the more amazing. It also suggests that the Focus, which will have DI, will get even better mileage.

[PotiusMori]

Are they taking design queues from the Fiesta? it looks a lot like dragon headlamps in some of those photos (though the closeup looks to be otherwise).

[PowerShift]

If you can believe it, it's already on sale:

Hyundai : Elantra - eBay (item 280593821810 end time Nov-28-10 14:31:13 PST)

Just bought one! - ElantraClub - For Hyundai Owners And Enthusiasts

That's remarkably quick from announcement to reveal to on sale. Ford could learn from this.

[Casca]

Originally Posted by PowerShift

If you can believe it, it's already on sale:

Hyundai : Elantra - eBay (item 280593821810 end time Nov-28-10 14:31:13 PST)

Just bought one! - ElantraClub - For Hyundai Owners And Enthusiasts

That's remarkably quick from announcement to reveal to on sale. Ford could learn from this.

They probably didn't make a big deal over it when they actually started.