Hyundai Motor unveils all-new Avante at Busan Mobility Show; CEO vows record sedan sales

Hyundai Motor made the global debut of the All-New Avante — a full model change of its flagship compact sedan — at a press preview for the 2026 Busan Mobility Show held at BEXCO in Busan on Friday.

The Avante has been in production for more than 30 years since its launch in 1990, earning a reputation as South Korea's quintessential "people's car." The All-New Avante is the first complete redesign in six years, following the seventh-generation model introduced in 2020.

"The automotive industry is rapidly shifting toward the era of software-defined vehicles, and Hyundai Motor has already demonstrated that potential by introducing Pleos Connect in the new Grandeur," CEO Jose Munoz said. "Innovation is only complete when it becomes part of customers' daily lives, and we want to deliver that special experience through the All-New Avante."

The All-New Avante offers an interior approaching midsize-sedan proportions while projecting a more dynamic image through its new design. The exterior draws on Hyundai Motor's "Art of Steel" design language, incorporating H-Edge Lighting daytime running lights and lift-up flush door handles for a sporty yet forward-looking look. The body is 55 millimeters longer than the previous model at 4,765 millimeters, the wheelbase grows 30 millimeters to 2,750 millimeters, and the width expands 30 millimeters to 1,855 millimeters.

Two powertrain options are available: a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and a 1.6-liter hybrid. The gasoline model produces a maximum of 149 horsepower, an improvement of 26 horsepower over its predecessor. The hybrid pairs a Smartstream 1.6-liter gasoline hybrid engine with a combined system output of 157 horsepower. Usability is further enhanced through Smart Regenerative Braking 3.0, a hybrid hierarchical predictive control system and a Stay Mode function.

The most significant change is the shift to a software-defined vehicle architecture. Following the new Grandeur, the All-New Avante becomes the second Hyundai model to adopt Pleos Connect, an infotainment platform built on the Android Automotive operating system. The next-generation generative AI agent Gleo AI will handle vehicle controls as well as schedule recommendations, information searches and conversational AI services. Through the Pleos App Market, drivers can also access a range of third-party apps covering video, music, streaming and gaming.

"The most important feature of Pleos Connect is that the experience keeps evolving," said Park Min-woo, head of Hyundai Motor and Kia's AVP division and CEO of 42dot. "The App Market lets customers configure how they use the vehicle according to their own needs, and Gleo AI will learn each customer's habits and context to execute the right functions at the right time — developing into a truly personalized agent."

Safety features have also been substantially upgraded. The All-New Avante is the first Hyundai vehicle to offer Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control 2, which operates on regular roads as well as highways, and SBW P-gear Emergency Braking. It also comes equipped with Pedal Misapplication Safety Assist, Highway Driving Assist 2 and Remote Smart Parking Assist. Hyundai Motor plans to release detailed specifications and pricing for the All-New Avante within the third quarter, at which point order-taking will begin in earnest.

Munoz said the All-New Avante would set a new sales record in the sedan segment. The model is exported to North America, Europe and other overseas markets under the name Elantra.

"The tougher the economic environment — with war, inflation and rising interest rates — the more consumers gravitate back toward practical, affordable transportation," he said. "Interest in the sedan market is rising again."

He added that "an entry model is not simply a small car — it is the starting point for creating lifelong customers," and said buyers of the Avante (Elantra) can grow within the Hyundai brand, moving on to the Sonata, Tucson, Santa Fe, Palisade and ultimately Genesis.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor has set up an approximately 2,040-square-meter exhibition space at the Busan Mobility Show, displaying 12 vehicles across eight models — including the Avante, the new Grandeur, the Ioniq 5, 6 and 9, the Kona Electric, the Staria Lounge EV and the Nexo. The booth features a Pleos Connect experience zone and generative AI interactive content, and the company has also arranged test-drive programs for the new Grandeur and the Ioniq 9.