Hyundai puts on an Accent with 2012 Verna hatch at Guangzhou

[Rania Elhoseny]

China is no less important a market for Korean automakers than it is for their Japanese competition. So after unveiling the new Verna sedan in Beijing this past April, Hyundai is back in the People's Republic with its new Verna hatchback. The vehicle was unveiled at the Guangzhou auto show, where Nissan also debuted its new Sunny global sedan.

Of what interest is this to North American buyers, you ask? What you're looking at is essentially the new Accent five-door that will be sold on these shores. Only in China, the model carries a different name and will be produced locally by joint venture with the Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company.

There it will be offered with two four-cylinder engines from Hyundai's Gamma family: a 1.4 with 78.7kW (105 horsepower) and 135.4Nm (100 pound-feet) of torque, and a 1.6 with 90.4kW (121 hp) and 155Nm (114 lb-ft). So fa,r all we have is the solitary image you see above, along with the press release after the jump, but you can bet there will be more before Hyundai puts its accent on the Verna for Western consumption.