LAS VEGAS, Nevada--As the temperature read 106 °F on the dash and I looked out over the Hoover Dam from behind the wheel of my 5-door baby blue 2012 Hyundai Accent, I felt quite cool, calm and collected. Not only was the A/C keeping me comfortable, but so too was the vehicle.
I have to admit, I questioned Hyundai's decision about hosting their Accent launch in Sin City. What message were they trying to send (because secretly everything has an underlying meaning, right?), what did they want us to learn about their new Accent model under the bright lights of The Strip?
The Hyundai Accent has been the Korean automaker's No. 1 selling vehicle in Canada since 1994. That's an impressive heritage to live up to, but it would seem that the 2012 version is sure to keep that statistic alive with a brand-new and more-powerful engine, a new look and a lower price.
Wait, you mean Hyundai are giving buyers more for less? Well, it looks that way. It all seemed too hot to handle, so we left the comfort of the hotel air conditioning to venture out into the desert heat behind the wheel of Hyundai's latest subcompact bread winner.
Faced with the dubious task of picking my vehicle from a lineup of multicoloured Accents, I inevitably chose a colour that is currently not available in Canada (it's a pleasant dusty baby blue and will hopefully make the move North sooner rather than later). Blissfully, the lineup also included all 6-speed manual transmission rides, the ideal match for open desert roads.
Equipped with a new 1.6L 4-cylinder engine, the Hyundai Accent handled itself very well along the curvy, windy desert paths outside the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas Strip. A first in its class, the Accent also features standard GDI (gasoline direct injection) on all three trim levels. With 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque, the Hyundai Accent isn't the most powerful car out there, but for the buyer this vehicle targets, it's a perfect number.
I have to admit, I questioned Hyundai's decision about hosting their Accent launch in Sin City. What message were they trying to send (because secretly everything has an underlying meaning, right?), what did they want us to learn about their new Accent model under the bright lights of The Strip?
 |
| Modern, slightly flirty and fun and appealing to more than one demographic, the Accent has been designed to please many without being overly generic. (Photo: Hyundai) |
The Hyundai Accent has been the Korean automaker's No. 1 selling vehicle in Canada since 1994. That's an impressive heritage to live up to, but it would seem that the 2012 version is sure to keep that statistic alive with a brand-new and more-powerful engine, a new look and a lower price.
Wait, you mean Hyundai are giving buyers more for less? Well, it looks that way. It all seemed too hot to handle, so we left the comfort of the hotel air conditioning to venture out into the desert heat behind the wheel of Hyundai's latest subcompact bread winner.
Faced with the dubious task of picking my vehicle from a lineup of multicoloured Accents, I inevitably chose a colour that is currently not available in Canada (it's a pleasant dusty baby blue and will hopefully make the move North sooner rather than later). Blissfully, the lineup also included all 6-speed manual transmission rides, the ideal match for open desert roads.
Equipped with a new 1.6L 4-cylinder engine, the Hyundai Accent handled itself very well along the curvy, windy desert paths outside the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas Strip. A first in its class, the Accent also features standard GDI (gasoline direct injection) on all three trim levels. With 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque, the Hyundai Accent isn't the most powerful car out there, but for the buyer this vehicle targets, it's a perfect number.
 |
| The Accent also features standard GDI (gasoline direct injection) on all three trim levels. (Photo: Hyundai) |