A New Sport Compact Is Coming From Korea

The hot hatch/sport compact segment in the U.S. has seen a resurgence in the past few years with automakers redesigning their current models or introducing new ones, along with new manufacturers throwing their hat into the ring. The latest automaker to join the fray comes from Korea.

Edmunds has learned that Hyundai will be introducing a hotted-up version of the new Elantra later this year at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Called the Elantra Sport, it will use the redesigned sedan as a base and use a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder producing an estimated 200 horsepower. Other tweaks will include changes to the exterior, retuned front suspension, larger brakes, and a set of eighteen-inch wheels.

"We have not really had a (Honda Civic) Si type of product before. We have had Sport models among the Elantras, but this is a completely different vehicle," said Hyundai Motor America CEO Dave Zuchowski.

Previously, Hyundai has done sport versions of the Elantra that focused only on the engine.

Hyundai will be positioning the Sport as the Elantra's flagship and expects the model to make up about seven to ten percent of Elantra sales. Interestingly, Hyundai isn't targeting the Ford Focus ST with the new Elantra Sport.

Does a sport compact from Hyundai intrigue you?