The all-new 2018 Hyundai Accent made its world premiere yesterday at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. The Accent enters its fifth generation by building on the strengths of its predecessors with Hyundai’s modern engineering prowess and expertise in research and development to deliver a vehicle with bold design, a sophisticated interior, a more efficient powertrain, noticeably reduced cabin noise, and remarkably improved driving dynamics. The company also imbued its newest subcompact car with the latest in safety technologies and convenience features.
The new car features Hyundai Motor’s cascading grille, a visual signature that is integral to the company’s identity. The grille is flanked by wrap-around headlights and available LED signature daytime running lights.
Accent has a sweeping roof profile, and a sharp character line running the length of the car where it meets slim and sporty rear combination lamps at the rear, set above a slim and modern rear bumper. Features such as 17-inch alloy wheels and side mirror LED turn signal indicators add to the premium feel of the car.
The car’s form is also functional, achieving balance between design and engineering to combine stand-out styling with aerodynamic improvements. The underside of the car is sculpted for aerodynamics, and a new front lip spoiler, together with reduced ground clearance of 10 mm, contribute to the Accent’s efficient design.
Compared to the last generation, the Accent sedan is wider by 29 mm and the overall length increased by 15 mm, yet height remains unchanged, giving the car a more grounded stance. Wheelbase has also increased by 10 mm, pushing the wheels further to the corners and improving interior roominess.
Like the sedan, the Accent 5-door has also increased in key measurements but adds a substantial 70 mm in length. Width and wheelbase are also up by 29 mm and 10 mm, respectively, while height is unchanged.
For 2018, the All-new Accent receives a revised powertrain tuned for improved fuel efficiency and every day drivability. The 1.6-liter “Gamma” four-cylinder Gasoline Direct Injected (GDI) engine produces 132 horsepower and 119 lb. ft. of torque. Compared to the previous generation Accent, the engine’s powerband has improved with a 4.6% increase in torque from 1,500 rpm to make every day drivability easier. Specifically, the acceleration performance for 40-80 km/h and 80-120 km/h has been improved over the previous model by 0.2 and 1.3 seconds, respectively.
The 1.6-liter Gamma four-cylinder GDI engine is paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission, while fuel efficiency has also been improved by 7% overall. In the engine, components such as low-friction piston rings, a variable fuel pressure module, and upgraded software for the engine control module improve overall operation. Further, with improvements to the return springs in the braking system, drive friction has been reduced. The automatic transmission has also been redesigned to reduce the unit’s overall weight by 2 kg and improve operational efficiency.
In addition, all Accent vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions include the company’s Drive Mode Select feature to adjust both powertrain performance and steering calibration, allowing the driver to customize the driving character by selecting two modes: Normal or Sport, by simply touching a button on the center console.
The 2018 Accent 4-door sedan will arrive in Canada in Q4 of 2017, followed by the All-new Accent 5-door in early 2018.
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