The Hyundai Stellar (Hangul: 현대 스텔라) is a large family car produced by the South Korean Hyundai Motor Company from July 1983 until the 1992 model year. It succeeded the Ford Cortina, which Hyundai had built under license. The Stellar was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro using a rear-wheel drive chassis from the Cortina Mark V.

Technology

left|thumb|1988 Hyundai Stellar 1.5 88 (South Korea)

left|thumb|1988 Hyundai Stellar 1.5 88 (South Korea; rear view)

The engine and transmission were licensed by Mitsubishi Motors. Engines available were 1.4 L (4G33, same as the Hyundai Pony) and 1.6 L (4G32) inline-fours until 1986, using either a KM119 4- or 5-speed manual or a Borg-Warner 03-55L 3-speed automatic and a 2.0 L engine in 1987.

Trim levels included L (base), GL/CL/SL, and CXL/GSL. The CXL/GSL featured power windows, locks and mirrors, remote fuel door, remote boot, premium sound system, full instrumentation (speed, tach, fuel, water temp, volts, and oil pressure), headlamp washers, and available air conditioning. The Stellar's Ford genes and conventional design led many British observers to compare it with the then recently discontinued Cortina - where conservative buyers were scared off by the Sierra's radical styling, a fact played upon by Hyundai's advertising agency with print advertisements depicting a jelly mould shaped like the Sierra above a picture of the Stellar. Like the Cortina, the Stellar also has wishbone suspension up front with a coil-sprung live rear axle. In Europe, the Stellar II is sometimes referred to as the Stellar Prima. This was only limited to the new 2.0 GSL model, thus differing from the continued 1.6 models. The 2.0 GSL "Prima" received new, larger bumpers, restyled lights, and an updated dashboard, while the 1.6 GSL kept the original design which was also continued for the 1.6 SL and 1.6 L. The 1.4 models were discontinued for the 1987 model year.

The Stellar was not available in the United States due to strict emission standards, but it was available in Canada and other countries. In addition, the Stellar was the only inexpensive four-cylinder powered rear-wheel-drive saloon car after the Toyota Corolla shifted to front-wheel drive in 1984 and the Daihatsu Charmant was discontinued in 1987. The Stellar was replaced in Canada and Europe by the Hyundai New Sonata in 1992. In the Korean domestic market, the lower end of the Stellar lineup for Private use can be considered as having been replaced by the Sonata, while 1.8 and 2.0 LPG Taxi models were produced until January 1997. The Stellar (along with the Pony) would be Hyundai's last rear-wheel drive cars for North America until the 2009 Genesis.

Lineup

  • Prima (1983–1986)
  • TX (1985–1997)
  • FX (1983–1986)
  • GX (1987–1990)
  • GSL (1983–1986)
  • SL (1983–1986)
  • CXL (Canada and Korea only, 1984–1986)
  • Apex (1986–1987)
  • 88 (Seoul Olympic limited edition, 1987–1988)
  • GXL (1989–1991)
  • 1.8 i (1990–1992)

Europe:

  • 1.4 L 4-speed manual (1983–1987)
  • 1.4 SL 4-speed manual (1983–198?)
  • 1.4 GLS 5-speed manual

1.6L Engine (1983–1986/1987–1990)

  • 1.6L GSL 4-Speed manual (1983–1984)
  • 1.6L "Prima" 4-Speed manual (1983–1984)
  • 1.6L Wagon 4-Speed manual (Police-use only, 1984–1986)
  • 1.6L LPG Taxi 4-Speed manual (1983–1987)
  • 1.6L LPG Taxi 5-Speed manual (1987–1990)

1.5L Engine (1984–1990)

  • 1.5L SL 4-Speed manual (1984–1987)
  • 1.5L GL 4-Speed manual (1987–1990)
  • 1.5L GX 4-Speed manual (1986–1990)
  • 1.5L CXL 3-Speed automatic (1985–1986)
  • 1.5L CXL 4-Speed manual (1985–1986)
  • 1.5L CXL 5-Speed manual (1985–1986)
  • 1.5L 88 4-Speed automatic (1987–1988)
  • 1.5L 88 5-Speed manual (1987–1988)
  • 1.5L GXL 4-Speed automatic (1989–1990)
  • 1.5L GXL 5-Speed manual (1989–1990)
  • 1.5L APEX 4-Speed manual (1986–1990)
  • 1.5L LPG Taxi 4-Speed manual (1985–1987)

1.8L Engine (1990–1997)

  • 1.8i 4-Speed automatic (1990–1992)
  • 1.8i 5-Speed manual (1990–1992)
  • 1.8 LPG Taxi 5-Speed manual (1990–1997)

2.0L Engine (1987–1997)

  • 2.0 LPG TX (Taxi) 5-Speed manual (1987–1997)

Major specifications

  • Overall length: 4416 mm (173.9 in) (2.0 GSL: 4578 mm (180.2 in))
  • Overall width: 1716 mm (67.6 in)
  • Overall height: 1372 mm (54.0 in)
  • Wheelbase: 2579 mm (101.5 in)
  • Front track: 1445 mm (56.89 in)
  • Rear track: 1425 mm (56.10 in)
  • Curb weight: 1000 kg (2204 lb.) (2.0 GSL: 1164 kg (2566 lb.))
  • Gross weight: 1475 kg (3251 lb.) (2.0 GSL: 1610 kg (3549 lb.))
  • Wheel dimensions: 13 x 4.5 in or 13 x 5.5 in
  • Steering type: Rack and pinion
  • Front brakes: Disc
  • Rear brakes: Drum

See also

  • Hyundai Elantra
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Ford Cortina

References