New Hyundai Solaris: Russian-built Accent is Ready for the Ice Cold

What was shown as the Concept RB at Moscow's International Motor Show has become the Hyundai Solaris, a re-nosed Accent [Verna in South Korea] for our Cold War counterparts. Starting in January, the Solaris will be Hyundai's first model to be assembled at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Rus plant.

The Solaris name comes from a competition held earlier this year. According to Hyundai, "Solaris", derived from the Latin Sol, "implies Hyundai Motor's strong will to expand its business in the Russian Federation".

Major differences deemed necessary for the Russian market include a new front end with boomerang fog lights, less swoopy headlights with bi-color bezels, and a more blunt hexagonal grille area with a less-pronounced chin. Inside, both the Solaris and Accent should be about the same, but differences may include some trim colors/options.

The top of the range Solaris features six airbags, and Hyundai will also provide models with electronic stability control.

The big South Korean auto monster says it will be making sure that Russian Solares will be prepped and ready to handle the harsh Russian environment, including as standard a rear heating duct, 4.0-liter washer fluid reservoir (with low level sensor), a 60Ah (ampere-hour) battery "for higher cold start performance", front and rear mudguards, and a set of enduro (1,500 hour) headlamps.

Optional add-ons for our deep-north Siberian readers include a wiper de-icer, heated driver/front passenger seats, heated mirrors, and an automatic "Emergency Stop Signal" that turns on should an accident occur.

Hyundai is hoping for 85,000 sales per year in Russia (including a 5-door hatchback that arrives later in 2011) once the Solaris goes on sale in 2011. Russian readers, this one goes out to you: is this a car you'd consider? And does the fact that it's Russian-built play a factor in your decision? Talk at me below.

By Phil Alex

Hyundai dresses up New Accent as RB Concept for the Moscow Auto Show

Along with the local version of the new Sonata, Hyundai is also showing the RB "concept" at the Moscow International Motor Show. What we're really looking at though is a thinly disguised version of the Russian market Verna/Accent subcompact, which originally made its world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show back in April.

Other than the "Orchid strokes", "fluidic essence", and the styling blah blah blah (we get it, Hyundai, the new models are full of emotion), this is some sort of international peace statement.

Seriously, the announcement says this model helps realize "the harmonic coexistence of all things created". Don't forget: you can't hug people with nuclear arms. The concept features a different hexagonal fascia (similar to that of the latest Tucson / iX35) for the Russian market (which seems a bit too rounded and conservative...the car, not the market), as well as a set of boomerang fog lamps.

The Russian RB/Verna/Accent will be built at Hyundai's St. Petersburg, Russia factory and should be on sale next spring. It will be powered by one of two new Gamma engines, either a 1.4-liter (107 hp, 135 Nm) or a 1.6-liter (124 hp, 156 Nm), hooked up to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

For other dimensions, check out our post from the Beijing reveal.

By Phil Alex

VIDEO: 2011 Hyundai Accent / Verna Small Sedan

This here is the first video of Hyundai's all-new 2011 Accent sedan that made its world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show as the Verna. Sporting a new design that draws directly from the latest Sonata, the Accent / Verna also gets a new platform and a choice of 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter engines with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

According to the South Korean automaker, the Verna will first go on sale in China later this year with other markets including North America to follow in 2011. For more details on the 2011 Accent / Verna, click here to check out our previous article.

New Hyundai Accent (Verna): Mini-Me Sonata Debuts at Beijing Motor Show

Hyundai staged the world-premiere of its all-new Verna small sedan, otherwise known as the Accent, at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show today. Not surprisingly, the new Accent looks like a 2011 Sonata that was left too long in the dryer, boasting the same "Fluidic Sculpture" design language in a much smaller package.

The 2011 Accent measures 4,340mm in length, 1,700mm in width, 1,460mm in height, and has a relatively long wheelbase of 2,570mm.Hyundai claims that the small sedan's overall cabin dimensions are bigger than any rivals and that it comes with a 454lt trunk that can "easily accommodate as many as four golf bags plus three small tote bags."

The China market Verna will be offered with a selection of two petrol engines. The base 1.4-liter inline-four produces 106HP and 135.4Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm, and comes with the choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic transmision.

The larger displacement 1.6-liter that delivers 121HP and 155Nm of peak torque will be offered exclusively with a four-speed automatic transmission.

For the China market, the Verna will be built at the company's Beijing plant starting from July and will go on sale in the country in the second half of this year.

Hyundai plans to gradually introduce the Accent's replacement to other regions of the world including North America by early 2011.