Hyundai shows first images of Accent facelift
Hyundai has revised a popular Accent/Verna for its home Korean market. Dubbed the Verna Transform, the sub-compact car received a number of technical enhancements as well as heavily updated exterior and a few minor interior upgrades.
Sepaking of exterior updates, the new Hyundai Verna Transform features a revised front fascia with more agressive overall exterior look. Styling upgrades on the facelifted Verna/Accent include a pair of redesigned headlights, new signature grille with two bars and Hyundai logo placed atop. There is also a sportier front bumper with redesigned fog lights and larger air intakes. Styling changes at rear include redesigned tail-lights and redesigned rear bumper.
Inside, the new Verna Transform sports a revised center stack. Material quality has been upgraded and interior instrumentation lightning has been changed from current green to blue.
Available with 1.6L four-cylinder engine, the Verna Transform now offers an improved fuel economy. Available on all Verna Transform models is also the eco lamp on the dashboard that will guide the driver to drive in the most economical way. A green lamp will come on when driving consistently to indicate high fuel efficiency driving, while a red lamp will indicate low fuel efficiency.
The new Verna/Accents is scheduled to go on sale in Korean market by mid June. The official date of Accents international sales expansion has not been announced yet, but most likely, Hyundai will bring the facelifted Accent to the States before the end of this year.
Follow the jump to see more images of the all-new Hyundai Verna Transform…
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:03 am
A shame they didnt bring this to the US in 2008 or something. Anyways, Im getting that grille and Bumper if I can find it on the Aftermarket.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
Nice Evolutionary process. Now the Green Baby Next Generation Small car design makes perfect sense. I now can see the Headlights and Grille evolving into that Rendering of the Green Baby for the Next Gen Accent. A fusion of Euro and American Design twisted to fit American Tastes. Before it didnt make sense comapring the current generation to that Green Baby until now.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
it will be nice if that grille is chromed…
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 pm
not digging that grill…but absolutely love the exhaust
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Don’t bring it to USA- looks like a cheap chinese car.
Wait till the full redesign, then bring to USA.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm
SoundGallery…it’s a step up from the current look…but i agree
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 pm
btw…is this hyundai’s new grill?…seems to be on all there new models…cept both the genesis’s
June 4th, 2009 at 12:12 am
That’s agly.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:45 am
I agree with SoundGallery… but like John, I think this is a step up from the current model. The grille should be chrome… or follow the hex shape that the new Tucson is taking.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Hmm, not feeling this nip and tuck.. Goes against the simple and clean lines we’ve been seeing from HMC recently..
But that girl is cute tho..
June 4th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Hmmm. If they are making a “transform” version of this car that tells me in the NEXT year they may do a full redesign. Like they did with the Sonata. Can’t wait for the new Azera too. Check it out. http://www.autoblog.com/photos/azera-based-kia-luxury-sedan-spy-shots/960289/
June 4th, 2009 at 1:30 am
[…] Accent will show up Stateside later this year.Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Verna Transform/Accent[Source: Hyundai-Blog]Hyundai gives KDM facelifted Accent - is the U.S. next? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 […]
June 4th, 2009 at 2:14 am
It looks like it in the same family as the Genesis Coupe and Elantra now though. By the way, I and others have been pestering Hyundai to put Blue lights in the Interior of the Accent. When I wrote to headquarters in Korea, they werent happy with the shortcomings I said the car had. They have fixed the shortcomings except for one, for now. That is, Ditching the sedan for a 5 door hatch, or ditching the 3 door and going with the 5 door hatch and sedan, giving KIA a 3 door Rio.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:16 am
You can paint that grille Kit, no biggie. Just get some good PPG chrome paint, and boom youre in business. Id also consider wrapping it in carbon fiber as an option as well.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:26 am
They told me the next gen Accent will fix my hatch short coming, and it will be a car on par with the Mercedes A class in Europe, but for $7,500-$10,000 cheaper.
They also said: “As 2009 is the Year of the Genesis, 2011 will be the year of the Accent. We are working on a Car of the Year winner right now. There will be a hybrid model, a very efficient and sporty turbo, and a peppy ultra high fuel economy 1.6 motor. There will be a 5 door hatch included in the Accent lineup. Essentially as we built the Genesis to cast a Halo on top, the Accent will cast a Halo from below.”
By the way, the only Accent that looks like a cheap chinese car, is the 2000-2005 model years. Those things were horrid looking. What was Hyundai thinking? First Gen Accents(1995-1999, and this refresh are the best looking ones to my tastes. The second gen (2000-2005) Accent was a strong seller, but not as strong as the first gen models or the current third gen models.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:30 am
What a shame too, becuase the second gen (2000-2005) Accents are still known for impeckable reliablity. A very competent subcompact in a sh-t body.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I disagree Smoke. They should NOT get rid of the econo sedan! It’s what started the Hyundai fever in the US in the ’80s in the first place with the Excel! I know I owned one. A Grey 1988 automatic sedan to be exact! (Nothing quite compared to the car either. It was suprisingly reliable. I apparently got a good one.)…
It IS the U.S. Hyundai heritage. Like it or not!
But I like your idea about the carbon fiber though.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:32 am
Needs some chrome!
June 4th, 2009 at 2:51 am
EB, if they did get rid of the Sedan, KIA will just get it as a Rio. More Hatches get sold than Sedans by the way, and most Sedans go to fleet, or I see old people driving them. Hyundai might go to a 3 model system. They are doing 3 engine choices for the US next Gen, maybe they might do 3 model choices. Dont get your hopes down man.
By the way, Hyundai customer service in Korea is sweet!!!! They sent the email to Hyundai North America, and I got a call within 2 days. North America was not happy that I sent Korea a letter. I think they got scolded ptetty bad by Korea.
I did tell them this one caveat, “No 5 door Hatch, no sale!!!”
June 4th, 2009 at 2:53 am
Except the Next Gen Accent to at least be in the Elantra price bracket as well, as the Kit will be on par with Audi and Mercedes Euro small cars. As you can see, the Elantra Touring is in the Sonata mid level trim price bracket already.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:04 am
Hyundai cars are aspirational luxury, they might as well get serious about it.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:41 am
EB, also the herritage of Hyundai might have to change a little as well in America. Keep the Fuel efficiency and affordablity factor like they plan to, but make the cars upmarket.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Also, EB I said prices will get more epensive, but the value will even be better. Think about this for a second. The Genesis coupe was put up with the First lexus SC, the Acura NSX, and other cars in that class and in that era, and compared them from late 1989 standards to 2009 standards. The Genesis has more ocontent better tech of course, more horsepower, better MPG, and it is cheaper than those cars adjusted in 2009 dollars.
As for value. Do you know that a top spec Tiburon with all the bells and whistles is more expensive by $2000 to a Base Genesis with an Automatic tranny? The Base Genny Coupe has leather and tons of Bells and Whistles. If I wasnt such a cheapo, Id get one immediately. That thing must go in every Hyundai onwers garage.
That value transformation is coming in all cars.
Im wondering, will Hyundai make 2 Accents in the future? Accent Classic (Current gen) and Accent side by side here like they do in other countries, or the new Accent is replaced by another model. Sell the Accent classic on the cheap, and make an upmarket Version on the side. Hyundai also does this with the Accent and i20 in other countries as well.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Its a way of keeping current customers who only care about affordability, fighting the: Malaysians, Indians, and Chinese in other markets, and going upmarket without having too much upmarket pain.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Malaysians, Indians, and Chinese are well on their way to the US. The Malayisans make some cars that have improving quality, they are like Hyundai/KIA 10 years ago.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Hey, maybe the 3 door will get a Genesis Coupe Rear Window Kink.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
You can also paint the center portion of the bumper black to merge it with the Black Bottom grille.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Why I starting to think thats going to be Hyundais new North American and KDM Market Signature Grille? Guys? Thats a nice grille, youll be able to tell thats a Hyundai from a mile away.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
let them stay in asia and make our our economy clean agaain
June 4th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
[…] Hyundai shows first images of Accent facelift | Hyundai-Blog By admin Dubbed the Verna Transform, the sub-compact car received a number of technical improvements as well as heavily updated exterior and a few interior upgrades. Sepaking of exterior updates, the new Verna Transform features a revised front … Hyundai Blog :: Hyundai news,… – http://www.hyundai-blog.com/ […]
June 5th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Wow, pretty interest how many comments there were for a chrome grill.. Thought it may have faded out of favor but whatever cranks your engine..
June 5th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Well Alex. since Hyundai is going upmarket, I wonder if the Grille will be chrome on the SE?
June 6th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/05/verna-transform-is-i-not-i-americas-next-strike-top-model/
Whew. Glad that fish is staying in the pond or at least on yonder side thereof.
June 7th, 2009 at 5:15 am
The Accent will be a non Europe car for now on Derrick. In Most Markets except for North America, Europe, Australia, and Korea, the Accent will be sold along with the i20. In Korea, North America, and Australia the Accent will be sold by itself.
June 7th, 2009 at 5:17 am
I dont see the problem here, it doesnt look that much different from a Genesis coupe grille, or a Next Gen Sonata Grille.
June 7th, 2009 at 5:20 am
You know Derrick, if this is true. This is the first time in the History of the Accent, it didnt get a refresh. Boy, they must be super busy focusing on the next gen Accent to even to bother with a refresh?
June 7th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
[…] Source: Hyundai […]
June 8th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Hmm. I wasn’t sure if he was saying we’d get a refresh, just not this one, or if he’s saying we won’t get anything until we get an all new car.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:05 am
I saw a recent interview with John Krafick hinting that the all new car is coming spring or summer 2010 as a 2011. It probably will debut in January, the current gen debuted in Jan of 2005 by the way. By the way in, this interview he says that SE for now on will mean=Direct Injection Turbos. First with the Sonata, next the Accent he said. He says the Accent will cast a halo from below, and it will be a transformative proudct. He said expect premium options such as Navigation and more in Accents and Elantras
He points to New Tucson and New Sonata being on dealer lots within the next few months, and then The Next gen Accent and Elantra will be around the corner from that, the Veloster (Not named Veloster he said) will be out later.
Its about 35-45 min of reading, very interesting:
http://cars.about.com/od/detoursanddiversions/a/jkrafcik_pt1.htm
August 25th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I hope they don’t bring this facelift version to the U.S. I really hope they bring the i20 as the new accent. It’s clean looking and much more sophisticated.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
whn vil da new verna b launched in india..??
October 18th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Soon.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I just rented an Accent over the Thanksgiving holiday, not sure what year but I would guess between 2006 and 2009. It was horrible. No power locks or windows, no cruise control, handled like my 12 year old Honda Civic and I believe that the ‘ECO’ function worked the opposite of what it was supposed to. Whenever that light was on, I used MORE gas.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Did you finalize the India launch date for Transform?. Will you be launching the CRDi also?. If so, when?
January 3rd, 2010 at 8:49 am
Q r Applicable for Diesel Ver only) (Petrolstats not interested)
How do you substantiate “Improved Fuel-economy” statement
when there is no change in the ENGINE.(Agreed eco lamp dashboard are there)
If so by how far is it expected to improve from the former - Just curious to know in Indian Metro cities or even in the Highways as well.(Test drive data)
Any changes in the Kerb weight for the later frm the former?
Thank you.
July 19th, 2010 at 8:01 am
what’s happening?
this picture is not matching w/ the one surfacing in youtube.
that one is far better…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-pnJBhWcE
July 20th, 2010 at 12:59 am
Whats happening is you….story is dated June 2009. Do you know that was over 13months ago? To conclude yesterdays news is old news! Hopefully you will grasp that and also fact that new model is released now! It aint hard to work all this out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!