Hyundai Begins Producing Cars at its New Russian Plant

Hyundai is continuing its ambitious plan to further increase global sales with the start of production at its first factory in Russia located at Saint Petersburg. The company’s sixth newest overseas assembly plant will make the Solaris, a subcompact sedan we will come to know as the new Accent.

“This is a historic moment, not only for Hyundai, but for Russia, as we are the first foreign automaker to operate a full-cycle manufacturing plant here,” said Gui-Il Chun, General Director of HMMR, a fully-owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company. “We are now truly part of Russia and we will focus on supplying customers with the best products at the best time.”

The Korean firm's Saint Petersburg factory currently employees more than 1,300 workers, but Hyundai has stated that it aims to create some 5,300 jobs by 2012, together with eleven parts suppliers. The plant’s annual capacity is said to be around 150,000 vehicles, while this year’s production target is 105,000 units.

The plant's first car, the Solaris, will be offered with a four-cylinder gasoline engine available in 1.4- and 1.6-liter displacements. Hyundai said the subcomact sedan has been adapted to cope with Russia’s vicious weather and tough road conditions. Aside from raising the car's ground clearance to 160mm, the company's engineers also added a large four-liter washer fluid reservoir with fluid-level sensor to warn drivers when a refill is required, a more robust 60Ah battery for improved cold-start performance and a heater duct for rear-seat passengers.

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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

SPY SHOTS: Is this the 2011 Hyundai Elantra or the New Accent Sedan?

Most of the times we receive spy photos from our partners, we don't have any questions or doubts about the type and make of the vehicles that we're dealing with. But once in a while, some scoops baffle us.

These spy shots were labeled as the next generation 2011 Hyundai Elantra. And while we have no doubt that it's a Hyundai, we are not at all convinced that what we're looking at here is the new Elantra. In fact, we believe that there's a possibility it may be the saloon version of the next generation Accent.

Evidently, you're wondering what made us consider the new Accent.

Well, compared to other spy shots of the Elantra here in the U.S., this camouflaged prototype that was spied in Germany appears to be more compact in dimensions and it features a less swooping roofline. Furthermore, the shape of the window frame at the rear door is also different.

A third option is that this may be the Euro-spec Elantra, but for the time being, we're leaning towards the Accent.

You can compare these photos with spy shots of the Elantra from other sites by clicking the links below, and tell us what you think.

Accent or Elantra, one thing is for sure: the styling of the prototype model is clearly inspired by the larger Sonata, and that should be something from a design standpoint.

2011 Hyundai Elantra Scoop Links: Autoblog, Worldcarfans, Edmunds

2010 Hyundai Accent gets Better Fuel Economy and New Blue Edition with up to 36MPG - Starts at around $10,000

Hyundai has updated its 2010 model year Accent with new standard features, a number of improvements to increase its fuel efficiency and the presentation of a new entry-level Blue Edition that boasts a combined fuel economy of 31mpg. All 2010 Accents receive lower friction engine components, aerodynamic improvements, lower-rolling-resistance silica tires, a "smart" alternator management system and other enhancements all of which are aimed at reducing fuel consumption.

While the Accent's 1.6-liter engine continues to develop 110HP at 6,000 rpm and 106 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,500 rpm, these upgrades result in a 1mpg bump in both city and highway on all available versions. According to Hyundai, the 2010 Accents return a combined fuel economy of 30mpg regardless of transmission choice compared to 29mpg of the 2009MY.

The Blue Edition, which is the new entry-level trim model priced at around $10,000, receives the same treatment as the other Accents plus revised transmission gear ratios and lowered ride height for better fuel efficiency. The maker said that it gets 27mpg city and 36mpg highway with a combined fuel economy of 31 mpg.

All 2010 Accents receive an "eco indicator" with the automatic transmission models featuring a green ECO light to indicate when the driver is achieving good fuel economy and the manual transmission a EcoShift indicator to inform drivers of the optimal time to shift gears.

Other updates for the 2010 model year include the addition of iPod/USB ports to auxiliary input on all audio- equipped models, standard steering wheel audio controls on Accent SE, optional on Accent GLS, standard blue backlit gauges on all models, standard cruise control and sunroof on Accent SE while ABS is now available on Accent GS.

Hyundai has yet to release pricing for the 2010 Accent.