Upgraded Accent coming next month
15 January 2003: Hyundai is upgrading its Accent for the European market, with better performance, a higher specification and improved styling.
The new Accent is available for the first time with a 1.6 engine, one used in the Coupe.
Across the range Accents have the following as standard: driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, power steering, side impact bars, CD player, electric front and rear windows, split/folding rear seats, ISOfix child seat anchorage, three 3-point seats belts and alloy wheels.
CDX models add the following: side airbags, air conditioning with purification filter, driver’s seat dual height adjuster and lumbar support, impact sensing door unlock, and trip computer.
Customers have the choice of three engines; the existing 1.3, the 1.6 and the common rail 1.5 turbo diesel.
The Accent is one of Hyundai’s most popular models, selling 1.6 million cars worldwide since its introduction in 1994.
The Accent also forms the basis of Hyundai’s World Rally Championship entry. Now onto its third evolution, the Accent WRC3 has achieved some highly impressive results on the rally series in 2002 finishing the year in fourth place in the manufacturers’ series – ahead of longer established competitors Skoda and Mitsubishi. This year the Hyundai World Rally Team continues with a two car entry with the experienced pairing of Freddy Loix and Armin Schwarz.