With fuel prices on the rise again, efficient sub-compact models like the Accent are coming back to the spotlight. At the 2011 New York Auto Show, the South Korean automaker pulled the wraps off its latest iteration of the Accent in U.S.-spec. Slated to hit dealerships this summer, the 2012 Accent is offered in both five-door hatchback and four-door saloon body styles and promises to deliver a best-in class fuel economy of 30mpg city and 40 mpg highway.
Dressed in Hyundai’s familiar ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design outfit, the new Accent introduces a new aluminum 1.6-liter Gamma engine with direct-injection technology delivering 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder gasoline unit is paired to either six-speed automatic or manual transmissions, with Hyundai claiming a highway-only driving range of up to 456 miles (733 kilometers).
Both body styles of the new Accent ride on a 101.2 inch wheelbase, 2.8-inches longer than the previous generation. The 66.9-inch width on all 2011 models increased by 0.2 inches for 2012. The Accent 4-door’s overall length has increased by 3.5 inches to 172 inches, while total length of the new five-door version is 162 inches.
Pricing for the new Accent starts at $12,445 for the GLS four-door and $14,595 for the GS five-door, not including a $750 freight fee.
*All Live Photos Copyright Carscoop / Phil Alex
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