The New Year is finally here and exciting events are just around the corner! The awards season is just starting. The sophisticated and glamorous Oscars, the fun and hilarious Golden Globes, and the rocking and glitzy Grammys are all scheduled for next month and a half. However, the most important award of the year was already announced on January 9th. Hyundai Elantra is the 2012 North American Car of the Year.

Fifty independent North American automotive journalists evaluated each of the new cars introduced last year and chose the 2012 Hyundai Elantra as the winner. Hyundai Elantra came out on top of the pack because of its innovative fluidic sculpture design which has the least drag and best in class fuel economy. The Hyundai Elantra’s standard fuel economy is EPA-rated at 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. It has the highest owner satisfaction with real world fuel economy of all compact cars. Plus, it miraculously offers mid-size interior room in a compact class footprint. Take note, Kansas City Hyundai Elantra is the car you should drive this year.

The Hyundai Elantra is powered by an all-new 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque and the more eco- friendly version of the car has 145 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai Elantra’s “Fluidic Sculpture” considers the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the illusion of constant motion. Hyundai Elantra is the prime example of Hyundai’s extremely successful formula of combining bold athletic design and great fuel economy.