Evolving Beauty

Evolution is inevitable, and this holds true both for an evolving automobile brand like Hyundai as well as for a world city like New Delhi. To preserve traditions, yet move with the times, can be a challenge - but striking a perfect balance between the two can create an enduring and everlasting legacy. 

Hyundai created, cultivated, and now reinvented their Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy. Breaking away from conventional barriers is what Hyundai has been doing with their styling over the past few years, and bold steps like these are needed for the Indian capital to mark its place in the list of leading world cities. The Indian capital, from the beginning of time, has been considered as the city of emperors. Both the car and the city continue to evolve to become more vibrant and progressive. 

This saloon is easily the best looker in the C-segment thanks to its Fluidic DNA, which gives it an athletic look and makes it more dynamic. Its stylish swooping roofline is pleasing to say the least. The beautifully crafted elongated sweptback headlamps are nothing short of a work of art, with the LED daytime running lamps splitting the twinpod cluster. The Elantra also oozes attitude with an all-black radiator grille and boomerang shaped fog lamps. This certainly would have pleased the previous rulers of the walled city. 

Delhi is a confluence of old and new, Indian and foreign cultures, which is best exemplified by Connaught Place - officially known as Rajiv Chowk - which firmly stands the test of time. This former headquarters of British India, modelled after the Royal Crescent in Bath, UK, is a heritage structure that has evolved from the days of the Raj to the modern day - recently refreshed to its former glory. And the Elantra looked the part, whether it was placed next to the Georgian architecture of the city's past or the modern art of the many murals now adorning the capital. 

The Elantra is not merely a pretty looking thing, as the bold lines in its silhouette complements its solid build. With muscular shoulder lines and bulging wheel arches, it reminds you of a sprinter about to get off the blocks. As so we decided to see how the sedan looked in front of the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru  Stadium. The stadium has hosted mega events such as the 1982 Asian Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the 2013 South Asian Games. The Elantra didn't look at all overwhelmed or lost amidst this mammoth structure, which itself received a bit of a redesign before the Commonwealth Games.

In this day and age, progress is all about being environmentally conscious. So, even though the Elantra cruises comfortably at high speed and remains as stable as the Delhi Metro, Hyundai has worked hard on the 1.8-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines for better efficiency and lower emissions. Keeping emissions in mind, another masterstroke by Hyundai is the addition of an inbuilt ioniser in the dual-zone air conditioner. It clears the air in the cabin of allergens like pollen, mould and hazardous airborne particles such as bacteria. And with the air quality being what it is in most big cities currently, this conscious effort goes a long way in helping us breathe slightly easier.

Even though the country's capital is criticised for its air pollution levels, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change leads by example – as their new headquarters are made from fly ash bricks and Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks, which are lightweight, insulate heat and provide fire resistance. The building also uses Bamboo Jute Composite for door frames and shutters. It's the most energy efficient building in the country at present, and it's lit up in pretty shades of blue, green and pink at night – which made for a pretty picture with the striking Elantra in front of this multihued structure.

The Elantra is definitely bold when it comes to design, but what is interesting to see is how the Fluidic DNA is a sign of progress for Hyundai. Like Delhi, it' s also continuously evolving with the times, and projecting Hyundai as a force to be reckoned within the changing automotive world order - much the way Delhi is leading the charge as India makes its presence felt on the world stage.

Published by: Auto X