It’s the first official press day of the 2017 Chicago Auto Show and Hyundai is up early, ready to parade its wares to those who’ve gathered for a taste of the future of transportation.
Hyundai has been busy the last few months, making appearances at the SEMA Show, Consumer Electronics Show, and Detroit Auto Show. When it seemed like the automaker had nothing new left to reveal come Chicago, low and behold Hyundai has debuted the 2018 Elantra GT hatchback–and boy was it worth the wait.
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Hyundai Wows Crowd with Eye-Catching Elantra GT
Gathering North Hall of McCormick Place, we at The News Wheel and other members of the press got to see first-hand the redesigned Elantra GT as Hyundai revealed it. A renamed version of the popular i30 in Europe that recently got redone, the Elantra GT isn’t a trim variant of the Elantra–it is its own sexy beast.
Before unveiling the GT, Scott Margason (director of Product Planning) gave updates on company’s progress since it entered in the USA years ago, seeing where the brand has progressed and where its headed. Noting the industry-wide spike in consumer demand for utility vehicles, Margason emphasized how compact hatchbacks fill that need as crossovers get smaller and smaller.
Once the two–yes, two–Elantra GTs were unveiled, the big news was shared: there will be two versions of the 2018 Elantra GT:
- Elantra GT powertrain: 2.0-liter 162 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque
- Elantra GT Sport powertrain: 1.6-liter turbo
Highlights for this new GT includes a greater storage volume (25 cubic feet of behind rear seat storage), multi-link independent rear suspension, new cascading grille design, wraparound rear taillights, Amazon Alexa Blue Link remote starting, Standard eight-inch display audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and more.
“The new Elantra GT brings more to the North American shores for the 2018 model year,” said Margason. “More space and features inside. More aggression and European flair outside. And more options under the hood. I’m particularly excited to showcase the GT Sport, a true hot hatch.”
For a look at the rest of the models that Hyundai has on display at its booth this week in Chicago, check out our guide.
The News Wheel is live tweeting, Instagramming, Facebooking, and more from the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. Follow The News Wheel on social media to stay up-to-date on all things CAS 2017 and perhaps catch a closer look at Hyundai’s vehicles.
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The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.
