GDI and Diesel for Accent

Direct-injected petrol and diesel powerplants have been confirmed for the Australian-market Hyundai Accent.

The importer's Senior Manager for Product Planning, Roland Rivero, revealed during the Accent's local launch yesterday that the two new engines are scheduled for introduction here later in the year.

"We will be expanding our powertrain and transmission combinations," he said. "Global supply is rather tight — for Accent in particular, of course — and therefore there's a slight delay. However, coming soon the Accent will also be offered in a 1.6-litre common-rail turbodiesel, which offers an abundance of torque, as well as excellent fuel economy.

"We'll also be bringing a gasoline direct-injection [engine], which will also feature dual continuous variable-valve timing on inlet and exhaust [cams]."

Although pricing is yet to be announced, Rivero subsequently hinted that the diesel Accent would be priced in accordance with Hyundai's strategy for other models that offer both petrol and diesel powerplants (the picture here shows the diesel engine in the i30).

"In a like-for-like, spec-for-spec basis — if they are identical in trim — there would be the traditional $2-2500 premium, which is what our competitors are offering. If you look at the [Ford] Fiesta at the moment, an equivalent of LX is... a $2500 premium."

Rivero was unable to shed any further light on pricing for the GDI engine, but remarked that the company would be better placed to comment on how the Accent range would be affected by the introduction of the new petrol engine within "the next three months". The schedule for the introduction of the new engine in the range seems contingent on stock and supply of the current petrol models from the factory.

Nothing further was said on the subject, but the GDI engine is already out and about in the Veloster, which is already on the way to Australia — with a standard six-speed manual and the option of a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Within a matter of months, the Accent's five-speed manual and four-speed automatic may be discontinued in the Australian-delivered Accent range.

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