The Hyundai Elantra is getting a SEMA makeover, and it looks, well, you be the judge. After seeing the overhaul Blood Type Racing gave to the Elantra, it's clear that this isn’t your mom’s daily driver anymore.

The creation is officially called the BTR Edition Elantra Sport Concept, and it’s the result of yet another collaboration between the Korean automaker and Blood Type Racing. You may remember the latter from a separate build it did for the Ford Focus ST that’s also heading to SEMA, but the company’s involvement with Hyundai actually stretches for a few years now. Back in 2014, the company created a program for the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and followed that up a year later with one for the Hyundai Veloster. This year it’s the Elantra’s turn in the spotlight, and it’s getting a slew of modifications that range from a new aerodynamic body kit all the way to tweaked suspension. The end result speaks for itself, as the Elantra has transformed into something you’re more likely to see on the set of a Fast and Furious production than the parking lot of your local Barnes and Noble.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Hyundai BTR Edition Elantra Sport Concept

2017 Hyundai BTR Edition Elantra Sport Concept

Specifications
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  • Model: 2017 Hyundai BTR Edition Elantra Sport Concept
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

As you can see, a lot of work was done to the exterior of the Hyundai Elantra, and I’m not just talking about the eye-cringing Glasurit Arancio Borealis paint job from BASF. It’s really just fancy speak for a bright orange that Blood Type Racing thought would be a good choice for the compact sedan. I suppose they're entitled to that, but I’m not a big fan of it. What I am a fan of is the extensive aero kit the Elantra was given. The components come by way of AeroTek and include a lip spoiler in the front, side skirts on the side, and a similar lip spoiler in the back. Then there’s the huge, APR GTC-200 GT rear wing sitting on top of the trunk. It’s next to impossible noticing that one. Work on the exterior also includes custom headlights from Diode Dynamics and a set of 19-inch SSR GTX01 wheels wrapped in Toyo T1 Sport tires.

Interior

Note: Standard Hyundai Elantra pictured here.

There are no photos of the interior at the moment though it’s been mentioned that the cabin gets a re-stitched OEM-style sport interior that includes a new carbon fiber steering wheel from SoCalGarageWorks to go along with diamond-stitched floor mats and ambient interior lighting. The tuner also describes the presence of anti-roll bars from Pierce Motorsports in the cabin. This suggests that the interior of the Elantra has also been reconfigured to the point that the rear seats could have been taken out completely.

The upgrades in this section of the Elantra won’t blow anyone away, but the function-over-form approach does lend to Blood Type Racing’s goal of giving the compact sedan a new identity without sacrificing its all-around ability to remain a “daily driver” for its owners. Separate of all that, there are more features that will likely be unveiled at the 2017 SEMA Auto Show when the doors open next month.

Drivetrain

Note: Standard Hyundai Elantra pictured here.

The specific power figures have yet to be announced, but we do know now that the sedan will retain its standard 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Helping the engine receive more power is an optimized ECU unit, a new intake system, and a water and methanol injection system that comes all the way from Devil’s Own. It’s unclear how many extra ponies Blood Type Racing was able to extract with all the modifications, but it is important to remember that a standard Elantra is good for 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Is it safe to say then that we’re looking at an output here that’s comfortably north of 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque? Given its physical make-up, I’d actually be disappointed if it was anything less than that.

The sporty nature of the BTR Edition Elantra Sport Concept is also characterized by how BTR went all-out in giving the Elantra significant chassis and suspension upgrades. There’s a new HSD coilover setup, for instance, an improved chassis brace, and an upgraded strut tower brace. Nobody goes to lengths like that if it doesn’t mean significant performance changes to a car, something that I’m becoming more and more sure of is the crux of this whole creation.

Note: Standard Hyundai Elantra pictured here.0}

I’m not a fan of the bright orange paint finish, but I am intrigued about everything else that Blood Type Racing did to the Hyundai Elantra. The body kit is impressive, as is the reworked interior - if it does have one. There also looks to be a promising engine upgrade there somewhere, and the magnitude of the chassis and suspension improvements should not be overlooked. Overall, this looks like a fierce Hyundai Elantra, a far departure from its standard - and far more subversive counterparts. Here’s to hoping that we get to see this creation in action sometime in the future. I’d be very interested to see if all these upgrades amount to something special.

Conclusion

Hyundai Elantra

Read our full review on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra Sport.

Read our full review on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra.