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Hyundai Veloster nixed in UK after just 3 years

The Veloster, Hyundai's funky, four-door hatchback, has been pulled from the British market after just three years on sale. The blame, as is usually the case in these circumstances, is being placed on slow sales. Auto Express reports that, much like it has in the United States, the Veloster has failed to resonate with both customers and critics. While UK sales figures weren't available to prove AE's point, Veloster sales in the US through November are down nearly 2,000 units over the same period in 2013, to under 26,000 vehicles. That makes it the third-slowest seller in the Hyundai lineup, behind the far more expensive Azera and Equus sedans. The performance-minded Veloster Turbo will be replaced in the UK by a version of the i30 equipped with the VT's 1.6-liter, force-induced, direct-injected engine. You can read all about that new vehicle right here.

Reader Spy: 2012 Hyundai Accent hatchback caught napping

2012 Hyundai Accent hatchback - Click above for high-res image gallery
Eagle-eyed Autoblog reader James spotted a camouflaged compact hatchback sitting in a parking lot in South Korea the other day, and fortunately for us, he had a camera with him. At first glance, this is obviously a new Hyundai based on the upward sweeping crease along the side that is characteristic of Hyundai's new 'fluidic sculpture' design language.
Closer examination indicates that this is almost certainly the five-door hatchback version of the new Verna/Accent that debuted at the Beijing Motor Show in April. The wheels are the same as the ones we saw on the Verna and the side crease extends ahead of the door cut-line which differs from the Elantra that debuted a week later at the Busan show in Korea.

2018 Hyundai Accent packs compact car style in a subcompact

Hyundai's smallest American offering, the Accent, has undergone a thoroughly substantial redesign. The result is a subcompact sedan that's slightly wider and slightly longer, and looks very much like its larger Elantra sibling. The Elantra's hexagonal, slatted grille, headlight shape, and greenhouse have all been scaled down to the Accent's smaller body. Even the taillights echo the pattern of those on the Elantra. Fortunately, the proportions weren't thrown off in the shrinking process, so the Accent is a reasonably handsome, if slightly conservative, sedan. The new Accent also sports a rather spiffy interior, at least with the red and black upholstery shown. That particular color combo wouldn't look out of place in an Elantra Sport. The dash itself isn't particularly remarkable, but it looks attractive enough and fairly straightforward. It also features a 7.0-inch touchscreen with which the occupants can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The seats can also be had with heaters. Hyundai touts automatic emergency braking as an available safety option. Mechanically, the big news comes in the form of chassis rigidity improvements. Hyundai says the new Accent is 32 percent stiffer, thanks in part to more high-strength steel. Under the hood is an updated 1.6-liter direct injection four-cylinder that makes 132 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque. This is a bit surprising, as the output is slightly less than that of the outgoing model. On the flip side, Hyundai claims this engine is 7 percent more fuel efficient, and that low-rpm torque has been improved. Plus, 132 horsepower is on par with competitors, and buyers who want to make the most of it have the option of a six-speed manual. A six-speed automatic is available, too. Pricing hasn't been announced for the new Hyundai Accent, but the sedan will show up at dealers during the third quarter of this year. The hatchback version, which has yet to be shown, will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2017. Related Video: