The new Hyundai Elantra has been spotted testing with a prominent opening on the passenger side that appears to be an electric charging port, raising the possibility of a plug-in hybrid version of the compact sedan.
New Elantra Prototype Reveals Charging Port
The eighth-generation Hyundai Elantra, known as the Avante in South Korea, has taken a sharper and chunkier design direction than the model it replaces. The new sedan follows Hyundai’s Art of Steel design language, also seen on the latest Tucson.
But the latest prototype has revealed something not previously seen on the Elantra. On the passenger side, the camouflage covering the prototype features a prominent opening just above the rear tire.
It is not a conventional gas door. Hyundai places the fuel door on the driver’s side regardless of the market, indicating that the opening is likely covering an electric charging port.
The opening also appears to be genuine rather than a fake cutout. Earlier Elantra prototypes with heavy camouflage did not feature the same opening.
Could the Elantra Become a Plug-In Hybrid?
The prototype is unlikely to be a fully electric Elantra. Hyundai has made clear that its electric vehicles are positioned as their own models under the Ioniq brand. The location of the opening would also likely be different if the car were a dedicated EV.
A plug-in version of the Elantra appears more likely. Spy reports also suggest the possibility of an extended-range electric version, although fitting a larger battery, potentially 40-50 kW, into the sedan’s existing architecture could be difficult.
Such a setup could also make the Elantra an expensive option for an affordable sedan. A plug-in hybrid system may make more sense, using a smaller 15-20 kWh battery while still providing an estimated 40-50 miles of electric driving before the hybrid system’s engine needs to activate.
New Elantra Already Confirmed With Hybrid Power
The new Elantra is already expected to continue offering a hybrid system. The South Korean-spec model will use a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 155 horsepower, and the U.S. model is likely to use the same setup.
If the prototype does become an Elantra PHEV, it would not be Hyundai’s first plug-in hybrid version of the sedan. The company’s first Elantra PHEV was the Elantra Lingdong PHEV, produced in China by Beijing Hyundai for that market beginning in 2019.
That model could travel about 50 miles on a charge and produced about 100 horsepower with its motor and engine running.
The latest prototype’s charging-port opening therefore points to the possibility of a new electrified Elantra, although the exact powertrain configuration remains tied to what Hyundai ultimately develops for the sedan.
