Spy Shots: Next-gen Hyundai Accent (or Elantra?) borrows several notes from Sonata

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Hyundai Accent (or Elantra?) borrows several notes from Sonata

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is more stylish, more spacious, and flat out better than its predecessor. This seems to be the M.O. for Hyundai nowadays, as it rolls out a continual stream of new and/or revised vehicles that leave any old brand preconceptions in the dust. Vehicles like the new Sonata, Tucson, and the Genesis models are casting Hyundai in a totally different, much more positive light than ever before. It won't end there, either. For instance, the 2011 Hyundai Equus will slot above the Genesis sedan and target bigger, pricier game.

But what about the folks with tighter budgets, shopping at an entry price point well below the Sonata? Well, as you see above, it looks like they won't need to sacrifice style for value much longer. This photo, posted to a Korean forum, apparently reveals the next-generation Hyundai Accent, caught buck naked in its homeland. (Earlier spy photos call this same car the Accent, and the forum where this shot came from is calling it the Verna - the Accent's name in Korea.) At the same time, it appears to be nearly identical to this vehicle, caught by spies in January and presumed to be the Elantra.

As you can plainly see, the new car, whether it be the Elantra or the Accent, shares the Sonata's "fluidic sculpture" design language - no bad thing. In fact, it's a really good thing, seeing as how the current Accent is about as generic-looking as cars get, and the current Elantra doesn't exactly set hearts racing either. Hyundai doesn't do generic anymore, and that now seems to apply to the lower-grade models, too. This looks quite promising, and we're keen to see more. Thanks to Foo for the tip!

UPDATE: As it happens, there's evidence to suggest this could instead perhaps be the next Elantra. The original post text has now been modified to reflect this possibility.

link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/27/spy-shots-next-gen-hyundai-accent-borrows-several-notes-from-so/

[daves87rs]

If that's the next Accent-Holy ****!

It looks good!

[ocnblu]

Baby Klingon name of Elantra, most likely.

[daves87rs]

I'm thinking it's the Ele myself, but you never know.

But for a compact.....

[RjION]

Not bad ....... not the best