By Harvey Schwartz

For the 2013 model year, Hyundai expands its model lineup of its bestselling Elantra line by adding a GT hatchback to enhance its versatility and functionality.  This new model should increase its sales capability by giving consumers more of what they want in a compact five door hatchback sedan.  I tested and photographed the new car and enjoyed the ride, it interior accruements and its new versatility and functionality.  It has stiff competition in the hot-selling compact five-door hatchback niche from the Toyota Matrix, Mazda3, Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza and VW Golf.  This new model should stand out from the rest with its fresh new looks, its adequate power and excellent fuel efficiency, its sport-tuned suspension, with a finely crafted and versatile interior plus a long list of safety systems.

The styling of the new Elantra GT is sleek and aggressive utilizing Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ DNA.  Up front is Hyundai’s signature hexagonal grille with chrome accents that flows into the hood, and its lower air-intake with L-shaped foglamps.  The side shows steeply raked A-pillars, a chrome beltline molding, aero-styled sideview mirrors, a character line that runs from the flared front up, through the pull-out door handles, and over the rear fenders.  The deep side extensions lowers the look for a more aggressive stance.  The rear features large, wraparound triangular lamp clusters, a spoiler set atop the wide hatchback and a flat bumper with a black contrasting diffuser.  My Elantra GT came equipped with the optional 17X7 inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with 215/45R17 inch low-profile performance tires that filled the fenders wells.  The Elantra GT slips through the air with a low 0.30 co-efficient of drag that increases fuel economy and lessons wind noise.

The use of high-strength steel provides a 37% increase body stiffness and the roof in my Elantra GT features a panoramic sunroof so it is completely made of glass which lightens the curb weight even more.  High strength steel allows the suspension to work optimally and at 2,784 pounds with the six-speed automatic the Elantra GT is lighter than its competitors while offering more interior room than Focus, Mazda3, Golf and Matrix.  This weight-efficient unibody structure enables the Elantra GT to achieve and estimated 37mpg/highway rating.

The new Elantra GT is powered by a 1.8 liter Nu four-cylinder engine generating 148 hp at 6,500rpm and 131lb.ft. of torque at 4,700rpm.  The Nu engine features an aluminum cylinder head, crank and block with a cast iron liner.  The engine also features dual continuously variable valve timing (D-CVVT) camshafts and hydraulic engine mounts for optimum power, efficiency and refinement.  Using D-CVVT on both camshafts has several advantages when compared with using it just on the intake camshaft.  With D-CVVT, there is a 2% improvement in performance (increased volumetric efficiency), a 2% improvement in fuel economy (reducing pumping loss) and a 30% reduction in hydrocarbon emissions-according to Hyundai.  In the valvetrain, roller swing …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts