Growing family: Hyundai adds 2017 Sport, 2018 GT to Elantra lineup - STLtoday.com

Like a hopeful young performer longing for the chance to become a star, the current Hyundai Elantra couldn't wait to get on stage. All new for the current model year, this 2017 Elantra already has been around for more than a year, having arrived in showrooms back in January 2016. It was followed shortly thereafter by a fuel-sipping "Eco" model.

But the "new" Elantra sedan, now a year old, was just the start of the show. Hyundai is rapidly expanding the cast list with a recently arrived Sport edition and a coming-this-summer hatchback model.

Here's a look.

2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport

Powered by a 1.6-liter, 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder that grinds out 195 lb.-ft. of torque, Elantra Sport outclasses the standard, naturally-aspirated sedan by 54 horsepower and 63 lb.-ft. of grunt.

This guy also ensures the neighbors know this is no working-stiff Elantra with unique front and rear fascias, standard 18-inch wheels and, in its blacked-out grille, a "turbo" badge, just to drive the point home.

We found Sport a lot of fun to throw around curves on its multi-link rear suspension — an improvement over the torsion-beam under the standard Elantra's rump. Adding to the fun was a flat-bottom steering wheel and our car's paddle-shift seven-speed automatic (a six-speed manual is standard).

On the road, this guy is enthusiastic off the line and, as such, lively around town, thanks in no small part to the fact its torque comes fully onboard at a low 1500 rpm. Just be aware Sport plays its hand early, meaning you'll still want to plan two-lane passing maneuvers well in advance.

In 120 miles, we realized 27 mpg.

Inside Sport are hugely bolstered black buckets with contrasting red stitching, matrix-style trim and easy-to-use infotainment that includes dual-zone climate controls and knobs for the radio. Our car added the $2,400 Premium Package, which grew the touch screen from 7 to 8 inches and brought along, among other things, navigation and premium audio.

Sport is a neat little compact — much more than a paint-and-pinstripes appearance package. Prices start at $22,485. Add $1,100 for the automatic.

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT

It's easy to assume the 2018 Elantra GT is simply a hatchback version of the 2017 Elantra sedan. Nope. It is, in fact, the European-market Hyundai i30, which rides totally different architecture than that of its U.S. sedan counterpart.

That said, GT in the U.S, like the U.S. Elantra sedan, will be offered in standard and Sport guise.

The standard model uses the base sedan's 2.0-liter I-4, but retunes it for 15 more hp, for a total of 162 ponies in the base GT. The GT Sport, like its sedan namesake, uses a 1.6-liter, 201-hp turbo I-4.

Both engines in GT can be had with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic.

As in the sedan, the base GT model gets a torsion-beam rear suspension while the Sport rides multi-link rear suspenders.

Of course, part of the joy of a hatchback is utility, and this Elantra GT is no exception. With its rear seats up, GT can carry 25 cubic feet of stuff. The cube count goes to 55 with seats folded.

Look for the Elantra GT to arrive in showrooms this summer. No pricing yet, but around 20-grand to start is a reasonable guess.

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Dan Wiese is a freelance automotive writer. He is a regular contributor to the Post-Dispatch and to AAA Midwest Traveler magazine's online Web Bonus. You can email him at drivingwithdan@gmail.com