cars news 10: Hyundai i30 Debuts New Cascading Grille (W/Video)

Hyundai has released a teaser video of its next-generation i30, known as the Elantra GT hatch in the U.S. From what we can see, its design looks quite a bit more refined than the old model.

“This model showcases an evolution of Hyundai Motor’s design language with natural flowing lines, refined surfaces and a sculpted body to create a timeless appearance,” Hyundai’s chief designer, Peter Schreyer, said in a recent statement.

The i30 also debuts a new highly textured “cascading grille,” which replaces the tried-and-true horizontal slats we’ve seen on the previous i30 and Elantra GT. Hyundai has also changed up the headlights and taillights, making both of them narrower.

The Hyundai i30 will debut on September 7 before making an appearance at the Paris auto show a few weeks later. The automaker says the new model will provide an “efficient and dynamic powertrain line-up” while maintaining its value proposition.

The Elantra GT that’s on sale now is essentially a rebadged version of the previous-gen i30, so we can expect many of the same changes to debut stateside on the next Elantra GT. The hatch debuted in the U.S. for the 2013 model year, and shares components with the fifth-generation Elantra sedan. It currently features a 2.0-liter inline-four producing 173 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque. Expect this new i30 to be mechanically related to the current Elantra.