Aug. 20--Hyundai has released a glimpse of the next Elantra.
The South Korean automaker is readying a new version of the compact car, its bestselling vehicle in the U.S., where it competes with other top sellers including the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
The redesigned 2017 Elantra will be shown for the first time in the U.S. at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
The concept sketch released by Hyundai on Thursday shows a sportier, low-slung car. The stylized depiction lacks door handles and most body panel seams. Aluminum wheels are evocative of the spinning turbine blades of a jet engine.
"The subtle and innovative appearance enhancements reflect Hyundai Motor's vision for design," said Peter Schreyer, chief design officer at Hyundai Motor Co.
The automaker did not provide any other information, but it's a safe bet that the new Elantra will have a four-cylinder engine and better fuel economy than the current model. Based on other Hyundai moves, the new Elantra will likely include the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces for smartphones. And some trim levels are expected to have active safety features such as forward collision alert and blind spot warning.
The new Elantra will be a critical launch for Hyundai, which has seen sales level off in the U.S. after a period of rapid growth.
The automaker sold 150,833 Elantras in the U.S. through the first seven months of this year, accounting for 34% of Hyundai's sales, according to industry research firm Autodata Corp. Hyundai's next best seller is the larger Sonata sedan.
