You've Really Never Seen a Hyundai like This Before |
| The Accent SR Concept adds a whole new dimension to the recently updated Accent. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
"You've never seen a Hyundai like this before." As often as quoting a tagline for a commercial is cliché in the world of journalism, I couldn't resist adding this one, simply because I - or you, for that matter - really haven't seen a Hyundai like this before. The Accent SR Concept adds a whole new dimension to the recently updated Accent, and justifiably has been causing commotion in Frankfurt and across the world. It should make Hyundai rather proud.
Enthusiasm, particularly for subcompact economy-minded hatchbacks is never very high, although with today's fuel prices, passing by the pumps while less thrifty vehicles line up to make yet another deposit in the OPEC war chest might make you feel pretty patriotic; but there are quite a few reasons why the Accent SR Concept is rising to the top of many peoples' "must see" list at this year's auto show circuit. For one, the car that it's based on, the upcoming Accent sedan, is about as appealing as a bowl of unfrosted (whole wheat) Wheaties. I find it difficult to get excited about the Accent sedan, even if it does offer a class-leading airbag count, excellent reliability and variable valve timing on its minutely-sized four cylinder engine.
Instead, the SR Concept is a foreshadowing of things to come. We unfortunately got the short end of the stick with the debut of the sedan in Detroit earlier this year, but Europeans will get a tasty treat at this year's
 |
| What really makes the difference for the SR is the styling tweaks that Hyundai has given it. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
Frankfurt motor show; the Accent SR features a yet-to-be seen three-door body style of the car, and boy does it ever change the viewing perspective. The SR is smaller than the sedan by a fair margin, measuring in at 4,035 mm (158.9 in.) in length, 1,745 mm (68.7 in.) in width, and 1,470 mm (57.9 in.) in height. Without its bulging biceps and triple-E sized shoes, the Accent Sedan is also narrower. Overall dimensions, by comparison are 4,282 mm (168.6 in.), 1,694 mm (66.7 in.), 1,471 mm (57.9 in.) for length, width and height respectively.
