SANTA MONICA, Calif. — In a deft move intended to strike the heart of Honda Civic sales, Hyundai will unveil its future Elantra coupe late this fall at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Expect powertrains in the new Elantra coupe to come straight from the sedan. All 2011 Elantra sedans are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder generating 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque.

Hyundai is also likely to create an Elantra R-Spec in 2012. That coupe would be powered by the same 208-hp turbocharged engine already confirmed for a high-performance version of the Hyundai Veloster. The standard Veloster offers an optional dual-clutch automatic transmission for its normally aspirated 1.6-liter engine, so the six-speed DCT could find its way into the Elantra R-Spec as well. More importantly, it would give the turbocharged Elantra an option not offered by Honda’s popular Civic Si.

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