Hyundai Stellar
Overview
Manufacturer	Hyundai
Production	May 1983 – April 1992 (until January 1997 for LPG Taxi models)[1]
Assembly	South Korea:Ulsan
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro atItaldesign
Body and chassis
Class	Mid Size Sedan
Layout	FR layout
Doors	4
Related	Ford Cortina Mark V Ford Taunus
Powertrain
Engine	1.4 LMitsubishi4G33I4 (1983–1987) 1.5 LMitsubishi4G31 I4 (1984–1990) 1.6 LMitsubishi4G32 I4 (1983–1990) 1.8 LMitsubishi4G62 I4 (1990–1997) 2.0 LMitsubishi4G63 I4 (1987–1997)
Transmission	4-speed MitsubishiKM119manual 5-speed MitsubishiKM119manual 3-speedBorg-Warner03-55Lautomatic 4-speedBorg-Warner03-71 automatic with overdrive (1987–1992 models only)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,579 mm (101.5 in)
Length	4,416 mm (173.9 in)
Width	1,716 mm (67.6 in)
Height	1,372 mm (54.0 in)
Curb weight	1,000 kg (2,204 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Cortina
Successor	Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Sonata

TheHyundai Stellar (Hangul:현대 스텔라)^[2] is alarge family car produced by the South KoreanHyundai Motor Company from July 1983 until the 1992model year. It succeeded theFord Cortina, which Hyundai had built under license.^[3][4] The Stellar was designed byGiorgetto Giugiaro using arear-wheel drive chassis from theCortina Mark V.^[5]

Theengine andtransmission were licensed byMitsubishi Motors. Engines available were 1.4 L (4G33, same as theHyundai Pony) and 1.6 L (4G32)inline-fours until 1986, using either a KM119 4- or 5-speedmanual or a Borg-Warner 03-55L 3-speed automatic and a 2.0 L engine in 1987.^[6]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 discontinuedCortina - where conservative buyers were scared off by theSierra's radical styling,^[7] a fact played upon by Hyundai's advertising agency with print advertisements depicting ajelly 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.^[7] As well as being comparable to the Cortina, which had been Britain's best-selling car, it also found favour with buyers due to its competitive asking price, which meant that it was priced comparably to a smallerEscort rather than a Sierra. It was sold in the UK from June 1984 until the arrival of the Lantra in 1991. It was the second Hyundai model to be imported to Europe, two years after the launch of the smaller Pony.^[6]

In 1987, the car was refreshed with the name changed toStellar II (or Stellar 2.0 in Canada) in many markets. Changes included a 2-waycatalytic converter, new instrument cluster, larger 2.0 L Mitsubishi 4G63 engine (SOHC with eight valves) with a feedback two-barrelcarburettor, higher output alternator, larger headlights, and restyled taillights. The frontdouble wishbone suspension was changed to aMacPherson strut design, along with larger brake callipers, as well as a two-piece driveshaft. The Stellar had the option of riding on several types of aluminium alloy wheels and was equipped with standard Michelin all-season tyres in Canada. Also that year, anautomatic transmission (Borg Warner 03-71) with overdrive was available as an option. In the domestic South Korean market, this was the first of their cars to be sold as theSonata.^[8] 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.^[9]

The Stellar was not available in the United States due to strictemission standards, but it was available in Canada and other countries.^[10] In addition, the Stellar was the only inexpensive four-cylinder powered rear-wheel-drivesaloon car after theToyota Corolla shifted tofront-wheel drive in 1984 and theDaihatsu Charmant was discontinued in 1987. The Stellar was replaced in Canada and Europe by theHyundai 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.^[11] The Stellar (along with the Pony) would be Hyundai's last rear-wheel drive cars for North America until the 2009Genesis.^[12]

• Prima (1983–1986)^[13]
• TX (1985–1997)^[14]
• FX (1983–1986)^[15]
• GX (1987–1990)^[16]
• GSL (1983–1986)^[17]
• SL (1983–1986)^[18]
• CXL (Canada and Korea only, 1984–1986)^[19]
• Apex (1986–1987)
• 88 (Seoul Olympic limited edition, 1987–1988)^[20]
• 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^[3]
• 1.6 L 4-speed manual (1983–1987)
• 1.6 L 5-speed manual (1987–1989)
• 1.6 SL 5-speed manual (1983–1989)
• 1.6 SL automatic (1983–1987)
• 1.6 GLS/GSL 5-speed manual (1983–1989)
• 1.6 GSL automatic (1983–1989)
• 2.0 GSL "Prima" 5-speed manual (1987–1989)
• 2.0 GSL "Prima" automatic (1987–1989)

Korea:

1.4L Engine (1983–1987):

• 1.4L SL 4-Speed manual
• 1.4L GSL 4-Speed manual
• 1.4L "Prima" 4-Speed manual
• 1.4L LPG Taxi 4-Speed manual (1983–1985)^[21]

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)^[22]
• 1.6L LPG Taxi 4-Speed manual (1983–1987)^[23]
• 1.6L LPG Taxi 5-Speed manual (1987–1990)^[24]

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)^[25]

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)^[26]

2.0L Engine (1987–1997)

• 2.0 LPG TX (Taxi) 5-Speed manual (1987–1997)^[27]

• 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

• Hyundai Elantra
• Hyundai Sonata
• Ford Cortina

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