Next Hyundai Elantra Spied with Funky New DesignKGP Photography - Car and DriverThe next-generation Hyundai Elantra has been spied testing, and we can begin to make out the quirky new design that's hiding beneath the camouflage.Thin LED light bars at the front and rear meet up with perpendicular elements on the outer edges, and a small triangular window sits behind the C-pillar.We expect to continue to see a range of four-cylinder engines under the hood, as well as a hybrid variant, when the Elantra arrives next year.Despite the meteoric rise of SUVs over the past two decades, the Elantra sedan remains an incredibly important vehicle for Hyundai. Last year, the compact Elantra was the Korean automaker's second-bestselling model in the United States, selling 148,200 copies, putting it behind only the Hyundai Tucson. With the current Elantra starting to show its age, Hyundai is readying its replacement, and we've now caught the next-generation Elantra testing in both Austria and California.KGP Photography - Car and DriverThe current seventh-generation Elantra arrived for the 2021 model year and brought an intriguing look, with a wide-mouthed grille, upturned headlights, and dramatic creases in the doors. While we can't see all of the details just yet, these spy photos of camouflaged Elantra prototypes indicate that the next-gen sedan may sport an equally funky design.AdvertisementAdvertisementPeeking through the black shrouding, we can make out an unusual lighting signature at the front and rear. Up front, the main headlights feature a parallelogram shape and sit below a thin light strip that seems to stretch across the front fascia, culminating in LED slashes that form the leading edge of a body line that flows up and over the front fender.Moving down the side of the Elantra, there's an odd C-pillar design, with a body-colored section that doesn't quite meet the roof, interrupted by a thin black strip. Behind the pillar is a small triangular quarter window. At the rear, the taillights appear to consist of two perpendicular LED lines, with a horizontal element that may span the width of the car before meeting vertical elements on the outer edges of the fascia.The new Hyundai Elantra is expected to arrive sometime in 2027, possibly for the 2028 model year. It will also be sold in Europe for the first time, hence the testing in Austria, where it was seen pulling a small trailer to simulate the caravanning that's popular in the Old World.It's currently unclear what engine the next-generation Elantra will use, but we expect to continue to see a lineup of four-cylinders and a hybrid option. Our fingers are crossed for the return of the sporty Elantra N, with its 276-hp turbo four and available six-speed manual transmission.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
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