Smaller the Better? Euro-Spec Hyundai Elantra Two-Door Hatch Debuting in Paris

The European Hyundai Elantra lineup is getting bigger and smaller at the same time. The new i30 two-door hatchback — a smaller version of the car we know in the U.S. as the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT — will debut at the Paris Motor Show.

Hyundai proudly notes the Hyundai i30 two-door hatchback was designed, engineered, and made in Europe, and let’s get this out of the way right now: the U.S. market will not get a Hyundai Elantra GT two-door hatchback variant. A Hyundai Motor Europe executive says the car “has been conceived solely for Europe” and, frankly, we don’t see much of a market for this car in the U.S, anyway.

The European-spec Hyundai Elantra two-door hatchback integrates the same bold grille shape as the Elantra GT, along with aggressively sculpted headlights that stretch up toward the side mirrors. On the compact Elantra two-door hatchback, the hard-to-miss character line works well, heading from the headlights to the taillights. The i30 two-door’s foglights have been reshaped, though we like the ones on the 2013 Elantra GT better.

From behind, the most noticeable difference between the U.S.-spec 2013 Elantra GT four-door hatch and the Euro-spec i30 two-door hatch are slightly restyled taillights and rear reflectors. Of course, the real changes between the two cars are under the hood. On the i30 two-door hatch, Hyundai will offer a six-speed manual and automatic transmission on six engines including a 126-hp 1.6-liter turbodiesel. Like the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT four-door hatchback, the i30 two-door hatchback will have driver-adjustable steering assistance levels.

Though we don’t get the i30 wagon or the new two-door hatchback, the U.S. lineup already includes a coupe, sedan, and a four-door hatchback. For more info and photos on the Hyundai Elantra i30 two-door hatchback and other Paris Motor Show debuts, stick with Motor Trend.

The U.S.-spec 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT is shown alongside the European-spec Hyundai i30 two-door hatchback below.

Source: Hyundai