Hyundai Accent faces axe

IT WAS once Hyundai’s top-selling car, but the Accent is facing the axe.

Hyundai has launched a facelifted version of the small car in South Korea, but it might not make the trip to Australia.

Hyundai Australia spokesman Ben Hershman revealed the importer would soon make a decision on the future of the model.

“We are reviewing our plans,” he said. “There is no definite decision about Accent.” The Accent, which took over from Hyundai’s top-selling Excel in 2000, has been squeezed by the smaller and cheaper Getz, the larger Elantra and the more expensive i30.

VFACTS figures show that to the end of May this year, Hyundai had sold just 52 Accents, while it shifted 7162 i30s, 1128 Elantras and 7263 Getz models in the same period.

The Accent had its best year in Australia in 2001 when sales hit 21,054 for the year before dropping back to 15,109 the next year when the Getz was introduced.

Mr Hershman would not discuss if any more shipments of the current Accent model were bound for Australia.

The Accent, which is available as a three-door hatch, five-door hatch or four-door sedan, is powered by a 1.6-litre engine. The base model is priced from $15,490.

While the current model has a relatively clean design, the facelifted model has a bolder front end with a more aggressive front bumper and a new two-layer grille.

There is also a new rear bumper, wing mirrors with built-in turn indicators a new centre console, but no mechanical upgrades.

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