Since 2007, Beijing Hyundai, have been busy working on developing the current Hyundai China’s line up. Beijing Hyundai (BJ) have already updated the current Hyundai Elantra to bring a fresh updated Elantra to the Chinese market, giving the Chinese marketplace a choice of two Elantras, the new (above), and the old.
The Elantra was not the only model that received a makeover for the Chinese market, the Hyundai Sonata also received an update for the Chinese market.
Beijing Hyundai have received 5.1 billion RMB in funding for research and development from Hyundai in Korea, which will lead to Beijing Hyundai developing more and more cars for the Chinese marketplace. Apparently, all of the intellectual property for the Chinese designed Elantra and Sonata belong to Beijing Hyundai, and if Hyundai wish to introduce these designs to the global market, then Hyundai must pay Beijing Hyundai a licensing fee for each car sold.
> if Hyundai wish to introduce these designs to the global market, then Hyundai must pay Beijing Hyundai a licensing fee for each car sold.
It is very highly unlikely that Hyundai would wish to introduce China-market specific designs to non-Chinese markets. Hyundai is just saying that as lip-service to please Chinese customers and the communist party.
How special is this Elantra to the Chinese market? To me the car looks exactly the same as this one http://worldwide.hyundai-motor.com/common/html/showroom/passenger/elantra/focus.html
Or does a new grille constitute a new design?