With the first generation of Elantra GT released in 2012, 5 years after, Hyundai redesigns it and reveals the 2nd generation.

Hyundai chose to name its European version of the i30 as the Elantra GT for the U.S. market. In 2015, the Korean carmaker introduced an updated version at the Chicago Auto Show.

In 2012, at the Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai introduced the 2013 model of the Elantra GT. It was inspired by the European five-door version and brought the functionality and the driving dynamics.