HB20 Hyundai

HYUNDAI Motor Brazil has released the official name for its Brazil only compact, due for launch next month (September 2012). The teaser images from the company proves that the Fluidic Sculpture design language is alive and kicking.

The new car, the HB20, will be produced at Hyundai Brazil’s plant in Piracicaba, just outside Sao Paulo and will have a 1.0-liter and 1.6-liter  flex fuel engines. The latter gets an automatic gearbox option. Hyundai also revealed that HB20 will grow a sedan and an SUV variants in 2013.

The car is designed and built by Korean and Brazilian engineers. Hyundai Motor Brazil has more than 1,000 Brazilian employees, which will increase to 2,000 by 2013. The Hyundai plant also provides 3,000 job opportunities from its local suppliers, and that will further on create another 2,000 indirect jobs.


Outside, the Accent hatchback features Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language, with touches like an upswept beltline and a hexagonal grille giving the car a sporty look. The roomy cabin boasts a class leading 21.2 cubic feet of cargo room along with more passenger space than many competing models although priced like a subcompact, the Accent is classified as a compact by the EPA thanks to its interior volume.

The Accent GS comes standard with a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with SiriusXM Satellite Radio and iPod/USB auxiliary input jacks, power and heated body colored side mirrors, remote keyless entry, cloth insert door trim, body colored door handles, a trip computer, 14 inch steel wheels and power locks and windows. The six speed manual transmission is standard, while the six speed automatic with Active ECO is an extra cost option.

The Accent SE builds on the GS’s features with steering wheel mounted audio controls, Bluetooth, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, premium cloth seats, piano black interior accents, a sliding center armrest, 16 inch alloy wheels, fog lamps and a rear spoiler.

The Accent is powered by a 1.6 liter direct injected four cylinder engine that puts out 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 123 lb-ft. of torque at 4,850 rpm. It is the first car in its class to feature direct injection technology, and one of the few to offer a six speed manual transmission (the automatic gearbox also has six cogs). Notably, the Accent’s impressive 30/40 mpg rating is the same for all models and transmissions, requiring no special package like some of the competition. The car rides on a fully independent suspension with a MacPherson strut setup in front and a torsion beam at the rear. The arrangement isn’t overtly sporty but does provide a comfortable freeway ride.


Specifications:

• 5-speed manual gearbox
• Precise and perfect shifting, providing comfort and a rapid response
• Flex-fuel engine
• The 1.0L model has three cylinders and gains in power due to reduced friction and better energy efficiency, leading to lower fuel consumption, a reduction in pollutant emissions and lower maintenance costs.
• 6% more powerful than the segment’s average.
• The 1.6L version has four cylinders and emits 23% more power than the segment’s average.
• The HB20 is equipped with a continuous variable valve timing (CVVT), which optimizes the air-fuel mixture both at low and high RPM, leading to improved performance and fuel consumption.