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Hyundai’s Elantra sedan and liftback small-medium car duo has been joined from left field by LaVita, an all-new, city-chic Euro hatch, mini-MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) and small wagon all in one, an urban-savvy small car with a tall, unusually spacious cabin, flexible seating for five and styled short so it can park where others fear to fit.

LaVita’s arrival is yet another variation in Hyundai’s ever-expanding range of passenger cars and is even more European-inspired than its Elantra sedan and 5-door liftback stablemates.

Tailored for the design-conscious but crowded big European cities, LaVita - Italian for Life!-is a lesson in efficient packaging of very generous passenger room and flexible cargo carrying capability in a highly manoeuvrable yet stylishly sophisticated, small-medium car.

Short and sweet

At just over four metres (4025mm) long, LaVita is the shortest car in Hyundai’s burgeoning stable, sizeably shorter even than Accent. Its cropped front and rear overhangs and precise power steering turn LaVita about the tightest in its class between walls - or other cars, the true test of urban agility.

LaVita meets the emerging demand in Australia for a spacious but compact car to better fit the increasing trend to medium-density living as well as accommodating varied lifestyles with its interior flexibility, according to Hyundai Automotive Distributors Australia managing director, Doug Croker.

"LaVita is further proof of the growing maturity of the Hyundai brand, appealing to more urbane and sophisticated buyer types with a design and concept a little removed from the conventional.

"Although an Elantra, sharing some of its siblings’ engineering, LaVita looks and is totally unique in the Hyundai lineup.

"And it is guaranteed a certain exclusivity. LaVita will be sold in relatively low volumes in Australia while export production focuses on meeting very strong demand in Europe.

"LaVita will ideally also suit small families, with its combination of comfortably elevated seating, great vision for all occupants, skirt-friendly step-in height, better than normal rear seat floor space for school bags et al and a low loading height to the tall cargo room.

"Importantly, these benefits come in a small, agile package which is light and fun to drive and economical to run," Mr Croker said.

Driving LaVita is a feel-good experience. Major contributors include the airy and funky interior, great vision, spritely performance and a ride comfort/handling mix that absorbs the lumps and bumps yet rewards with sporty responses where the road gets interesting.

Design

Hyundai Motor in Korea conceived the idea of LaVita and executed its architecture and engineering. However, to ensure the car aligned with European and like tastes, HMC commissioned legendary Italian design house Pininfarina of many a Ferrari and exotic car fame, to put form to function, with input from Hyundai’s Frankfurt Design Studio.

LaVita impresses with its clean, beautifully chiselled, multi-plane sculpturing, aerodynamic surface detailing, corner radiusing and neatly cropped length. Its simple, timeless elegance exudes a sophisticated, urbane and multi-faceted personality reflective of the diverse and discriminating people to which it will appeal.

A styling signature is the cabin window sill line, which is cut lower in the door glass to create a ‘nestled’ effect for the passenger compartment and to lend extra visibility for occupants - especially youngsters, while maximizing covered boot depth around the rear glasshouse and accommodating the sleek, sloping nose at the windscreen base.

The clear lens headlights incorporate multi-focus reflectors while the slim, vertical taillights follow the styling crease lines and stack the indicators high up where they can be more easily seen from cars further back in the traffic stream behind.

Body-coloured bumpers are protected at the front by black corner rubbing inserts and aft by a full width black insert guarding against cargo loading scuffs. Substantial section black body side mouldings do the job for the doors

LaVita’s interior is even more avant-garde. The dash spells difference with a central instrument pod angled to the driver, in front of whom is a panel of check and indicator lights set into a low, full width panel, creating a great sense of light and airy spaciousness from the elevated front seating positions.

A novel design twist is the transmission shift lever sprouting from the lower central dash, while stylish door trim and armrest contouring complements the dash theme.

Interior flexibility

To excel in urban confines, LaVita trades length for height. Higher seating affords more legroom without needing extra cabin length. It also greatly improves visibility, which is even more enhanced for rear passengers who sit slightly higher than the front, theatre-style.

The front seats fully recline, the driver’s adds adjustments for cushion hoist and tilt and lumbar support and the rear seat boasts six backrest rake angle adjustment positions.

The 60/40 split rear seat slides fore-aft 200mm to take a bigger boot load, or double-folds forward to take a really bulky load on a completely flat floor more than 1.2 metres long, up to 1.1 metres high and 1.35 metres wide and almost one metre wide between the rear wheel houses. A lift-up, removeable panel covers a 590mm deep boot space underneath, which has an elastic cargo net to hold smaller packages.

Storage bins, pockets and cupholders abound, such as a drawer under the left front seat, an umbrella pocket scalloped into the lower dash, a small driver’s side flock-lined flip-down tray, two lidded recesses in the tops of the rear wheel house trims, another in the rear centre armrest and two ‘secret’ lidded recesses in the floor under the rear seats, accessed when the seats are folded forward. An overhead console stows sunglasses and houses twin reading lights.

Rear passengers even get a pair of airline-type seat-back tables with integral cupholders, each with nicely damped raise and lower actions via small gas support struts.

Five cupholders are supplied, the other three are all retractable and are in the front lower console, the centre rear pull-down armrest and one for the front passenger extending out in front of the air-conditioning outer dash register, to help keep it cold or hot.

Equipment

LaVita is laden with life’s luxuries:

• air-conditioning with pollen filter and ducting to the rear footwells,

• remote central locking with alarm and immobilizer,

• power assisted rack and pinion steering via tilt-adjustable wheel,

• electric windows with one-touch-down driver’s glass,

• remote electric door mirrors,

• 6-speaker CD/tuner,

• a battery saving automatic headlights-off override if the ignition key is removed and the driver’s door opened,

• GLS higher level interior trim,

• flip-covered vanity mirrors in both sunvisors,

• two 12 volt, 120W power outlets (front one is a cigarette lighter),

• tachometer and

• roof rails.

Safety

Safety is a given in LaVita with:

• standard ‘soft-deploy’ driver airbag,

• front seat belts with pre-tensioners, load-limiters and adjustable pillar mounts,

• bodywork with controlled crush zones front and rear of the cabin and

• high tensile steel side outer reinforcements, side inner panels, rear crossmember and side impact in-door beams, totalling 57 per cent of bodyshell mass,

• extra heavy duty centre floor crossmembers as part of side impact load path redirection,

• one-piece side-of-car and front door stampings for strength,

• collapsible steering column,

• impact-triggered automatic fuel cut-off,

• road speed-linked intermittent wipers,

• rear wiper/washer with intermittent mode,

• driver seat adjustment for cushion height, tilt and lumbar support,

• vertically adjustable head restraints for all five seats,

• anti-submarining front seats and a

• rear fog light.

In-house testing to Euro-NCAP standard indicates a four-star rating with particularly strong side impact performance.

An optional Enhanced Safety Pack brings ABS anti-skid brakes with EBD (electronic brake force distribution) and a front passenger airbag.

Powertrain and chassis

LaVita is built on a variation of the Elantra sedan/liftback platform and all-independent suspension, but with less front and rear body overhang and a raised, almost flat floor.

LaVita’s offset coil spring and gas-pressure damper suspension is fully independent all round via MacPherson struts up front, quad lateral links (the rear links adjustable) and twin longitudinal links at the rear and anti-roll stabilizer bars front and rear.

The front end differs from Elantra sedan/liftback and has a massive, I-beam plan design crossmember from which pivot the lower control A-arms off each end and the main engine mount on a forward extension. Front track width is identical at 1485 mm however. LaVita’s front overhang is 115mm less than the other Elantra models.

LaVita’s rear suspension is similar to its siblings, but the car’s 360mm shorter rear overhang and just 10mm shorter wheelbase (2600mm) dictates its mounting under the spare wheel well rather than tucked in front of it. Rear track is increased 10mm to 1485mm.

LaVita also shares Elantra’s 1.8 litre, twin cam 4-cylinder engine, slick shifting 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed electronic, adaptive (to driving style) automatic with fuel-saving torque converter lock-up on third and top gears.

In LaVita, the second generation of the Hyundai-designed ‘Beta’ series engine is re-tuned for more low-rev torque for less gear changing and ease of driving, peaking at 161Nm at 4500rpm, while maximum power of 90kW at 6000rpm delivers nippy performance on standard unleaded petrol, delivered through the front wheels.

As in Elantra, the manual transmission shift action is improved with double cone synchronizers between the first three gears and keyless synchronizing on first to fourth gears.

Overall gearing in LaVita automatic is lower than in Elantra sedan/liftback mainly via its 4.345:1 final drive in lieu of 3.77.

AS2877 fuel consumption figures are: manual highway 6.0 litres/100km, city 9.0, automatic 6.6 highway and 10.0 city cycle.

Brakes are power-assisted front ventilated discs and rear self-adjusting drums operated through tandem 7” and 8” boosters, wheels are 14” shod with 185/65 tyres and the spare wheel is full size.

And, like all Hyundai cars, Elantra LaVita is backed by a 5-year / 130,000km warranty, the best continuously offered car factory warranty in Australia.

LaVita is, in short, high, wide and handsome.

LaVita means Life! As some say...Get a Life!

LaVita will go on sale late October, 2001.

Elantra LaVita Recommended retail pricing
Elantra LaVita GLS manual	$22,990 Driveaway*
Elantra LaVita GLS automatic	$24,980 Driveaway*
*worth between approx $1600-$2300 depending on location.
Enhanced Safety Pack (ABS+EBD+PAB)	$2190
Mica Paint	$198
Metallic Paint	$165
Competitor RRPs
Holden Zafira 2.2	$31,990 + on road costs
Renault Scenic Expression 1.6	$25,878 + on road costs
Renault Scenic Dynamique 2.0	$27,878 + on road costs
Renault Scenic Privilege 2.0	$28,878 + on road costs
Mazda Premacy 1.8	$27,690 + on road costs
Daewoo Tacuma 2.2	$24,990 + on road costs
Kia Carens 1.8	$23,990 + on road costs

LAVITA SPECIFICATIONS
Engine capacity (cc)		1795cc (1.8 Litres)
Number of cylinders		4 Inline
Valve system		Twin Cam, 16v
Maximum power kW@rpm		90.2kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum torque Nm@rpm		161 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Fuel system		Multi Point Electronic Fuel Injection
Bore x Stroke (mm)		82 x 85
Compression ratio		10.1:1
TRANSMISSION
		Manual	Automatic
		5 speed floor shift	optional (fuzzy logic 4 speed with electronic overdrive & lock up torque converter on 3rd & 4th)
Gear ratios
	1st	3.615	2.846
	2nd	2.053	1.581
	3rd	1.393	1.000
	4th	1.061	0.685
	5th	0.837	-
	Reverse	3.25	2.176
	Final	3.842	4.345
SUSPENSION
Front		Independent MacPherson strut with coil spring. Anti-roll stabilizer bar
Rear		Independent coil spring/strut units, multi-links. Anti-roll stabilizer bar
Shock Absorbers (Front and rear)		Telescopic gas double acting type
STEERING
Type		Energy absorbing collapsible steering column with tilt adjustment
Column		Energy absorbing dual collapsible steering column
Minimum turning circle		10.4
No of steering wheel turns lock to lock		3.19
WHEELS & TYRES
Tyres		185 / 65 R14
Steel wheel with full size spare		5.5J x 14
DIMENSIONS
Exterior	Length (mm)	4025
	Width (mm)	1740
	Height with roof rails (mm)	1685
	Wheelbase (mm)	2600
	Wheel track (front/rear)	1485/1485
	Minimum Ground Clearance (mm)	160
Interior	Head room (mm) - Front/rear	1027/999
	Leg room (mm) - Front/rear	1046/956
	Shoulder room (mm) - Front/rear	1397/1405
	Hip room (mm) - Front/rear	1340/1360
Cargo room	Load lengths at floor: rear seat rear most / forward / folded (mm)	720 / 920 / 1210
	Max width (under rear seat folded area) (mm)	1355
	Min width (between rear wheel houses) (mm)	990
	Max height (under luggage cover) (mm)	590
	Max height (above rear seat folded area) (mm)	1100
FUEL CONSUMPTION*
Manual Highway Cycle (litre/100km)		6.0
Auto Highway Cycle (litre/100km)		6.6
Manual City Cycle (litre/100km)		9.0
Auto City Cycle (litre/100km)		10.0
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres)		55
BRAKES
General		Dual-diagonal, split-circuit, power-assisted system with pressure proportioning valve
Front		Ventilated disc, floating calipers with pad wear warning device
Rear		Self adjusting drums
ABS		Optional
TARE MASS
Manual (kg)		1248
Automatic (kg)		1272
SAFETY FEATURES
Strengthened body, with rigid cabin & crush zones front & rear		S
Driver airbag		S
Passenger Airbag		O
Height adjustable front seat belts with pretensioners & load limiters		S
Anti submarining front seat pans		S
Rear fog light		S
Side impact intrusion bar each door		S
Impact absorbing bumpers		S
Child safety rear door locks		S
3 child seat anchor point brackets		S
High mounted stop lamp		S
Warning lights (seatbelt, door ajar, park brake, low fuel)		S
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Electric outside mirrors		S
Intermittent rear window wiper with washer		S
Colour coded front & rear bumpers		S
Roof mounted Antenna		S
Body coloured door handles		S
Body coloured rear garnish		S
CONVENIENCE & COMFORT FEATURES
Air conditioning with pollen filter		S
Rear heating ducts (under front seats to rear footwells)		S
Rear heated glass		S
Immobilizer		S
CD player/FM/AM radio with 6 speakers		S
Remote electric windows with one-touch-down for driver's window		S
Central locking (including tailgate)		S
Keyless entry / burglar alarm		S
Sliding fore-aft adjustment of rear seats with 6 backrest rake angle settings		S
Two 12V power outlets, lower centre dash (cigarette lighter) & in boot		S
Roof rails		S
Driver seat lumbar adjustment		S
Driver seat adjustment for cushion height & tilt		S
Seat back pockets behind front seats		S
Fold up tray (back of front seats) with cup holders & gas damped action		S
Front and rear adjustable head restraints (including rear centre)		S
Storage drawer under front passenger seat		S
60/40 split double folding rear seat with folding armrest & lidded cupholder & storage recess within		S
Digital clock		S
Driver's foot rest		S
Tachometer		S
Dual horn		S
Remote fuel filler release		S
Overhead sunglasses holder with map lights		S
Centre cabin & luggage lamps		S
Centre console with storage recess		S
Front and rear door pockets with bottle holders		S
3 assist grips (rear with coat hooks)		S
Driver and passenger sunvisors with flip-cover vanity mirror (Driver also with ticket holder)		S
5 x cup holders (front dash passenger side, lower centre dash, front seatback trays, rear arm rest)		S
Day/night rear view mirror		S
Rear cargo net and net hooks		S
Rear storage compartments under rear seats & atop rear wheel houses		S
Legend: S = Standard, O = Option
Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and Hyundai Automotive Distributors Australia (HADA) each reserve the right to alter vehicle specifications and equipment level without notice. This brochure is meant to serve as a general guide only. Specifications and equipment details shown may not be correct or accurate. Some equipment is optional. To the extent permitted by the law, neither HMC or HADA shall be liable to any person as a result of reliance on the contents of this brochure. Please consult your Hyundai dealer for the latest specifications, equipment level, options, prices, colours and vehicle availability. Metallic and Mica paint are optional extras.