Is the Arnejs Hyundai’s new Matrix?

With the new Avante, Hyundai’s entire line-up has been revised and brought up to date. The only model left is the Matrix, and as the most popular model in the line-up, it’s replacement is crucial. Unfortunately, apart from Singapore, the Matrix has not been a worldwide success for Hyundai. On the other hand, Hyundai’s ambition to become a major world player means that it will not abandon this segment. At the recent Paris Motorshow, Hyundai showed the Arnejs (pronounced Ar-nez) concept car, a sleek 5-door MPV that has been designed for the European market. If the Arnejs does translate to the next Matrix, it will be a bigger but sleeker vehicle – longer by 285mm, wider by 100mm, but with its height lower at 1488mm (vs the Matrix’s 1685mm). It is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox but in all likelihood petrol versions will be available as well. As a design, the Arnejs is dramatic, with its highly sculptured lines and coup-like shape. It also has an interesting glass panel in the roof, but this is not likely to make it to the production model. Hyundai has set up a microsite at its global homepage for the Arnejs ( http://worldwide.hyundai-motor.com/index.html ) and has labeled it a “Close to reality” concept car. The car is a running prototype, and the microsite features a short film of the car. The Arnejs is a development of Hyundai’s Genus concept, and the pdf of this prototype is at: http://www.hyundaipressoffice.co.uk/hyundai/press_packs/Genus_concept.pdf