2018 Hyundai Accent revealed with more tech and refinement

The local B-segment will be abuzz once again after Hyundai recently held the world debut of the 2018 Accent at this year's Canandian International Auto Show. Lighter, more high-tech and slightly bigger than before, the 2018 Accent is built on the success of its predecessors and gets a major redesign both inside and out.

The body of the 2018 Accent is now comprised of 54.5-percent Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) which improves the car's collision performance and drops overall weight. It even gets a new chassis that improved torsional rigidity at 32-percent. This will deliver better noise isolation and driving dynamics according to the automaker.

Over to its design, the all-new Accent appears to have borrowed some styling cues from its bigger brother, the Elantra. It gets a new cascading grill up front, along with reshaped headlights that now projectors. New 17-inch alloys are shod in the wheels wells while a new trunk design and fresh pair of taillights dominate the rear.

In terms of size, the 4-door Accent measures 4,385mm long, 1,729mm wide, 1,450mm tall and has a 4,185mm wheelbase. The 5-door hatch, on the other hand measures 4,185mm long. Width, height and wheelbase measurements are carried-over from the 4-door model.

The interior gets a major upgrade as it now looks modern and sophisticated. High-end models will come with red-contrast hues and stitching that aim to give the Accent a sportier feel. New additions in the 2018 Accent include: multifunction steering wheel, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and auto climate control.

Powering the Canandian-spec Accent is a 1.6-liter Gamma GDI four-cylinder engine that puts out 132 PS and 161 Nm of torque. Tranmissions available include either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Hyundai claimed the engine has a better powerband as torque is readily available from 1,500 rpm. In addition, the engine gets new low-friction piston rings, variable fuel pressure module and a tweaked software for the ECU.

Standard safety features on the 2018 Accent are the following: six airbags, stability control, vehicle stability management, traction control and anti-lock brakes.