Hyundai may import 2011 Elantra from Korea to meet demands

February 2, 2011February 2, 2011 Omar Rana 2011, Compact Cars, Elantra, Hyundai Elantra, Sedans

Hyundai is once again expecting its U.S. sales to increase in 2011 (by 10 percent this year to 590,000 units) with the Sonata and the new Elantra leading the way. The Korean automaker has stated that it is now looking to import the new 2011 Elantra from Korea to meet demands.

The redesigned 2011 Hyundai Elantra, which went on sale in December, saw sales more than double in Dec. 2010 to 13,096, from 5,763 in 2009. Meaning Hyundai expects sales of the Elantra to increase significantly from the 132,246 units sold in all of 2010.

“If Elantra does what we think, hope it will do, it will mean we’ll have to export them from Korea,” spokesman Frank Ahrens said . “We’re pretty bullish on it, given the reviews it’s received so far and the price.”

Hyundai sold a total of 538,228 units in 2010.

Click here for more news on the Hyundai Elantra.

Refresher: Power for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra comes from a 1.8L inline 4-cylinder engine that makes 148-hp (10 more horsepower than outgoing model) and 131 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Elantra returns an EPA rated 28/40 mpg (city/highway). The 40 mpg highway rating is 5 more mpgs than the outgoing Elantra model. Prices start at $14,830 and top out at $21,980.