Automatic Sport Cars

The 2012 Hyundai Accent isn’t a car anyone was anxiously waiting for. That isn’t to say no one anticipates sub-compact cars with sweaty palms. The launch of the next-generation Toyota Yaris is going to be a big event in the lives of many in the UAE. Nothing else comes close to the Yaris in popularity. The Accent has always been sidelined. However, we just drove the all-new 2012 Hyundai Accent from Dubai to Fujairah and back, and it’s a car that can give Toyota some sleepless nights.

For one, the 2012 Hyundai Accent looks pretty good for a car that competes in the “bargain” segment. During the presentation at the media event in Ibn Battuta Gate hotel, they mentioned things like “eagle eye” headlights and “character lines” that wrap right around the car. They seemingly put a lot of thought into making it look good, although there is only so much they could do with a small sedan.
INTERIOR
Choosing a subcompact sedan no longer means foregoing comfort and convenience features. A standard 6-way adjustable driver’s seat and standard tilt steering wheel work in conjunction to provide a comfortable driving position. Power door locks, standard on all Accent models, can be paired with the convenience of available power windows, remote keyless entry, and power heated mirrors. A 4-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with iPod / USB / AUX ports is standard equipment. Those seeking added listening enjoyment can opt for a 6-speaker, 172 watt AM/FM/XM/CD audio system featuring Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and steering wheel audio controls. Cruise control, air conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and a power sunroof are all available.
EXTERIOR
The car drives well in any road situation. The ride was surprisingly smoother than we expected, as the suspension seems a bit softer than most European sub-compacts, while wind and road noise at highway speeds was above-average, but within class standards. It can lose its composure a bit in crosswinds on the open road though, and constant steering corrections were required, as it is with most small cars. Forward visibility was good, the engine was adequate, the tiptronic gearbox chose gears perfectly by itself, the four-wheel-disc brakes worked fine, and the controls offered pretty solid feedback without being heavy, so it was rather enjoyable to throw around. Handling isn’t class-leading in the pursuit of comfort, but it is good enough to be somewhat entertaining, and on that long drive, we appreciated the balance. Our car had 175-width tyres on 14-inch wheels, so we expect the higher-spec model to behave a little more firmly with its 195-width tyres on 16-inchers.We racked up maybe more than 350 km to and from Fujairah using some back roads, and managed a fuel consumption of around 7.5 litres/100 km, but I was being very aggressive with the throttle and always had the seemingly-good a/c on in February afternoon weather, so it could likely do better.

The 2012 Accent joins the Hyundai line-up sporting the company’s increasingly popular Fluidic Sculpture design. The vehicle’s exterior lines are intended to be futuristic, dynamic, and sleek. In a segment typically associated with staid designs, Accent stands out from the crowd. While the styling provides an attractive form, it’s also functional, featuring a slippery 0.30 coefficient of drag. Five-door models include a sporty trunk lid-mounted spoiler. For an assertive stance, 16” alloy wheels are available.
ENGINE
The 2012 Accent can be had in GCC-spec with a 106 hp 1.4-litre or a 122 hp 1.6-litre engine, both mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. Unfortunately, Hyundai does not plan to import their Korean-market models which have the new direct-injection 138 hp 1.6-litre engine with the 6-speed automatic to keep prices low.

After the presentation, we headed out in convoy from the hotel in Dubai to Fujairah, with the promise of a free lunch at the Hilton there, with Hyundai execs hoping journalists actually test the car on the way. I was assigned to a blue one, which seemed to be the 1.6-litre base model, judging by its 14-inch steel wheels with hubcaps, lack of steering-wheel buttons, no centre-console storage cubby and no leather on the steering wheel. I only figured that out after seeing those items on a higher-spec model riding on 16-inch alloys.
SAFETY
Hyundai doesn’t believe that consumers should have to pay a premium for safety, so a long list of safety features are included as standard equipment on all 2012 Accent models. A total of six airbags protect occupants in the event of a collision, including two front impact airbags, two front seat-mounted side impact airbags, and curtain side-impact airbags for front and rear passengers. Active front head restraints and seatbelt pretensioners work in conjunction with the airbag system to aid in preventing injury.

The Accent’s underlying structure is engineered to protect occupants using a Collision Load Dispersion mechanism. The vehicle’s structure distributes the force of an impact in three ways to minimize floor deformation and maintain the integrity of the cabin.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Control work together to help deliver confident handling in all conditions. Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) integrates control of the ESC and motor-driven power steering (MDPS) to provide handling assistance in slippery conditions or in sudden cornering scenarios. The system can deliver up to 8 Newton-meters of counter-steering effort when required to assist the driver in maintaining control of the vehicle.

A key safety element for any vehicle is its braking system. Accent is the only car in the subcompact segment to offer four wheel disc brakes as standard. An Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) featuring Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) is also included. EBD examines the effect of vehicle load on weight distribution and apportions the braking force between front and rear axles so as to maximize stopping ability. In the event of a panic stop, BA ensures that maximum braking force is applied.
reference:www.motorauthority.com,www.drivearabia.com,www.autoguide.com