Hyundai Excel

The Hyundai Excel (Hangul: 현대 엑셀), also known as the Hyundai Pony, Hyundai Pony Excel, Hyundai Presto, Mitsubishi Precis and Hyundai X2, is an automobile which was produced by Hyundai Motor Company from 1985 to 2000. It was the first front-wheel drive car produced by the South Korean manufacturer. The Excel range replaced the rear wheel drive Hyundai Pony.

Not to be confused with Buick Excelle.
Hyundai Excel
First generation
Overview
ManufacturerHyundai
Also calledHyundai Pony
Hyundai Pony Excel (X1 hatchback in South Korea)
Hyundai Presto (X1 sedan in South Korea)
Mitsubishi Precis
Hyundai X2 (UK)[1]
Production1985–2000
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact car (B)
LayoutFF layout
RelatedHyundai Scoupe
Mitsubishi Mirage
Chronology
PredecessorHyundai Pony
SuccessorHyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra

Background

The Excel was based on the second generation of Mitsubishi Mirage[2] , but it was restyled to look different by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Excel was available in three- or five-door hatchback and four-door sedan models.[3] The Excel was the first Hyundai car to be exported to the United States.

The Excel was available with either a manual or automatic transmission mated to a four-cylinder engine aspirated by a carburetor or fuel injection system, depending on market and model year.

Originally, the Excel was supposed to be replaced by the Elantra in 1990, but it ended up being sold for four more years until being replaced by the Hyundai Accent in the model year 1995. From 1990, there was a coupé variant called the Hyundai Scoupe, which was replaced by the Hyundai Coupe in 1996.

Names

Some markets, including Europe, had the Excel branded as the Hyundai Pony, although it is not directly related to its rear wheel drive predecessor of the same name. In South Korea the hatchback version was known as Hyundai Pony Excel, and the sedan version was known as Hyundai Presto.

The Excel was also sold in the United States by Mitsubishi Motors from 1987 to 1994 as the badge engineered Mitsubishi Precis. Available as either a 3- or 5-door hatchback, the Precis remained in the Mitsubishi range as a "price leader," slotted below the Mirage until it was discontinued in 1992.[4]

First Generation (X1; 1985–1989)
First generation (X1)
1989 Hyundai Excel GL 3-door (USA)
Overview
Production1985–1989
AssemblyUlsan, South Korea
DesignerGiorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
Body and chassis
Body style3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
4-door sedan
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase93.7 in (2,380 mm)
Length160.9 in (4,087 mm) (2-door)
168 in (4,267 mm) (4-door)
Width63.1 in (1,603 mm)
Height54.1 in (1,374 mm)

The Excel was introduced as a replacement for the Hyundai Pony. In the United States, it was the company's first and only model (the previous Pony could not be sold in that country as it did not meet federal emissions standards), but thanks to a price of $4,995 USD and being voted 'Best Product #10' by Fortune magazine, it set records for a first-year import by selling 168,882 units, helping push the company's cumulative production past one million by 1986.[5] Similar sales success was replicated in Australia, where it was priced at A$9,990.

In Europe the car continued the Pony nameplate. It was much more modern than its predecessor with new engines, front-wheel drive and an all-new design. Available engines were 1,3 (1298 cc (79ci)) and 1,5 litre (1468 cc (90ci)) inline-four units, producing 66 HP (49 kW) and 71 HP (53 kW). On the South Korean home market, the hatchbacks were marketed as "Pony Excel" and the sedan was called Hyundai Presto. The 1985 Pony was only sold as five-door hatchback in Europe. Unlike the first Pony Sedan, the Pony/Excel X1 Sedan had the boot separated from the passenger compartment.

  • 1985–87 Hyundai Pony 5-door (Europe)
  • 1989 Hyundai Excel 4-door sedan (USA)

Versions available were:

North America

  • 1.5 base
  • 1.5 GL
  • 1.5 GLS (5-door and 4-door only)
  • 1.5 GS (3-door only)

Australia

  • 1.5 L
  • 1.5 GL
  • 1.5 GLS
  • 1.5 GT

United Kingdom

  • 1300 L/Sonnet
  • 1300 GLS
  • 1500 GL
  • 1500 GLS

On most European markets, the Pony X1 was available in six configurations:

  • 1.3 L, 4-speed manual
  • 1.3 GL, 4-speed manual
  • 1.5 GL, 4-speed manual
  • 1.3 GLS, 4-speed manual
  • 1.5 GLS, 5-speed manual
  • 1.5 GLS, 3-speed automatic

1987 facelift

With the 1987 facelift, the Pony name got the XP suffix in Europe which was also found on the car itself. More important, this series saw the return of both the three-door hatchback and the four-door sedan in Europe. The 1,3 liter engine was discontinued, the 1,5 liter remained unchanged. In Europe, the LE was added as fourth trim level, this being the new entry level followed by the familiar L, GL and GLS models. All trim levels could be combined with all three body styles. An automatic gearbox was again available only on the GLS model.

Lineup
  • 1.5 LE, 4-speed manual
  • 1.5 L, 4-speed manual
  • 1.5 GL, 4-speed manual
  • 1.5 GL, 5-speed manual
  • 1.5 GLS, 5-speed manual
  • 1.5 GLS, 3-speed automatic

Second Generation (X2; 1989–1995)
Second generation (X2)
Overview
Also calledHyundai X2 (UK)[1]
Production1989–1995
1995–1998 (Philippines)
AssemblyUlsan, South Korea
Body and chassis
Body style3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
4-door sedan
3-door panel van[6]
Powertrain
Engine
  • 1.3 L 4G13 I4
  • 1.5 L 81 hp (60 kW) I4
  • 1.5 L I4 MPI
Transmission4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase93.8 in (2,383 mm)
Length1990–91 & 1993–94 2-Door Hatchback: 161.4 in (4,100 mm)
1990–91 & 1993–94 5-Door Hatchback: 168.3 in (4,275 mm)
1992 Sedan: 168.6 in (4,282 mm)
1992 Hatchback: 161.7 in (4,107 mm)
Width1990–91 & 1993–94: 63.3 in (1,608 mm)
1992: 63.1 in (1,603 mm)
Height1993–94: 54.5 in (1,384 mm)
1992: 51.4 in (1,306 mm)
1990: 51.6 in (1,311 mm)

Brought as a new generation, the 1989 Excel was more like a next facelift. A new version of the 1,5 litre engine was introduced, with electronic fuel-injection instead of a carburetor. This 1.5 MPI produced 85 HP (62 kW).

Most remarkable, the 1989 look was very short lived: with the 1990 model year yet another facelift appeared. Another notable fact was the renaming of the four-door Pony Sedan to Excel in Europe. This transition went gradually, for example in the Dutch 1989 brochure photo's of a Pony badged sedan are shown while the text refers to Excel. The 1990 brochure shows an actual Excel.

The 1.5 MPI engine was not offered in the five-door Pony. On the other hand, both the Pony three-door hatchback as well as the Excel four-door sedan came in a vast amount of models.

The second-generation Excel was given a facelift and slightly enlarged from 1990 onwards, while its engine adopted multi-point fuel injection, and a new 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission was offered.

The 1.3 model and the Mitsubishi Colt also share the same engine and gearbox.

1990 facelift

The Excel's 1989 styling was closely related to the all-new Sonata, which was launched in Europe for the 1989 model year. The mid-sized Sonata, successor of the Stellar, underwent already a facelift for the 1990 model year. The styling of the Excel followed in late 1991 to keep the resemblance with the Sonata. Most noticeable was the front end, where all three cars' orange indicator lenses were replaced by clear ones and the headlamps became less rectangular.

From 1991, the 1.5 versions were badged 1.5i to denote fuel injection.

Markets

It was sold in CX, LX and CXL trim levels in South Korea. The South Korean (home market) range was:

  • 1.3 CX (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)
  • 1.3 LX (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)
  • 1.5 CX (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)
  • 1.5 LX (5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon)
  • 1.5 CXL (5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon).

All models sold in North America had the 1.5-liter engine producing 81 hp (60 kW) and 91 lb⋅ft (123 N⋅m), with automatic transmission as a freestanding option for any model. The lineup available at U.S. Hyundai dealers was;

  • Base (3-door hatchback, 4 door sedan)
  • GL (3-door hatchback, 4 door sedan, 5 door hatchback in 1990 only)
  • GLS (3-door hatchback, 4 door sedan)
  • GS (3-door hatchback)

The 5 door model may have been available in Canada for a longer period and in a wider variety of trims. The Mitsubishi Precis came as a 3-door only, in trim levels equivalent to the base and GL Hyundai-branded cars.

Hyundai launched the Excel in Thailand in the early 1990s. The lineup consisted of:

  • 1.3 Base (Manual and Automatic)
  • 1.3 LS (Manual and Automatic)
  • 1.5 LS (Manual)
  • 1.5 GLS (Manual and Automatic, with a fuel injected version (GLSi) also available)

The Excel was marketed in Eurasia as the Hyundai Pony or Pony X2 (X2 representing second generation). In the United Kingdom and some parts of Europe, versions available were:

  • 1.3 S (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback)
  • 1.3 Sonnet (3-door hatchback) – replaced 1.3 S base model
  • 1.3 LS (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)
  • 1.5 GSi (5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)

However, some European markets did not get the 1.3 version and the range was:

  • 1.5 L (3-door)
  • 1.5 LE (3-door)
  • 1.5 GL (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback)
  • 1.5 LS (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)
  • 1.5 GS (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)
  • 1.5 GT (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback) – note, not all markets got this version
  • 1.5 GLS (3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan)

European lineup 1989

The 1989 Pony and Excel models were most extensive of all European series.

Pony three-door hatchback:

  • LE 4-speed manual
  • L 4-speed manual
  • L 5-speed manual
  • GS 5-speed manual
  • GT 5-speed manual
  • GT 3-speed automatic
  • GTi 5-speed manual
  • GTi 4-speed automatic
  • GTX 5-speed manual
  • GTXi 5-speed manual

Pony five-door hatchback:

  • GL, 4-speed manual
  • GL, 5-speed manual
  • GL, 3-speed automatic
  • GLS, 5-speed manual
  • GLS, 3-speed automatic

Excel four-door sedan:

  • L 4-speed manual
  • GL 4-speed manual
  • GL 5-speed manual
  • GLS 5-speed manual
  • SX 5-speed manual
  • SLX 5-speed manual
  • SLX 3-speed automatic
  • SLXi 5-speed manual
  • SLXi 4-speed automatic
  • SGX 5-speed manual
  • SGXi 5-speed manual

European lineup 1990

For 1990, the trim levels were reduced and simplified.

  • Pony three-door hatchback GL, 4-speed manual
  • Pony three-door hatchback GL, 5-speed manual
  • Pony three-door hatchback GS, 5-speed manual
  • Pony three-door hatchback GS, 3-speed automatic
  • Pony five-door hatchback GL, 5-speed manual
  • Pony five-door hatchback GLS, 5-speed manual
  • Pony five-door hatchback GLS, 3-speed automatic
  • Excel four-door sedan GL, 5-speed manual
  • Excel four-door sedan GLS, 5-speed manual
  • Excel four-door sedan GLS, 3-speed automatic
  • 1991-1994 Hyundai Excel (X2) Sprint 3-door hatchback (Australia)
  • 1991–1994 Hyundai Excel (X2) LS 5-door hatchback (Australia)
  • 1991-1994 Hyundai Excel (X2) LS sedan (Australia)

Third Generation (X3; 1994–2000)
Hyundai Excel (X3)
Further information: Hyundai Accent § X3

When the Hyundai Accent was introduced in 1994 for the 1995 model year, it continued to be called Hyundai Excel in some markets, including the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia.

Also in Indonesia, the first, second and fourth generation Hyundai Accent sedans were sold as Excel, Excel II and Excel III. Based from lowest trim level and only sold for taxi companies.

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References
  1. HYUNDAI RANGE 1992-93 UK Mkt sales brochure - HCD-1 Scoupe Lantra X2 Sonata, www.ebay.ie, as archived at web.archive.org
  2. "Hyundai Excel GL". caranddriver.com. 1 March 1986.
  3. "Hyundai Excel The Car Directory". The-car-directory.com. 27 December 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  4. "ConsumerGuide.com review". Auto.consumerguide.com. 4 October 2006. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  5. "Ssay it with SSUVs: Korea's SSangyong goes where the buyers are – sport/utility vehicles", Gwendolyn S. Knapp, Ward's Auto World, April 1996 (FindArticles.com)
  6. Hyundai EXCEL van 1991 commercial 현대 엑셀 밴, www.youtube.com Retrieved 13 February 2017
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