Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's largest automaker, said Thursday it started selling the refreshed Accent diesel subcompact equipped with its own transmission technology that guarantees better fuel efficiency and a sporty driving experience.

The Accent diesel adopts the seven-speed "Double Clutch Transmission" for the first time for a domestically-produced model.

It applies two separate clutches to improve response time and lower noise. 

The transmission, developed by Hyundai Motor, will help improve fuel efficiency significantly, the company said. The 2015 Accent diesel also boats a fuel efficiency of 18.3 km per liter, the best among same-class vehicles produced by local automakers.

Its new 1.6-liter VGT engine meets toughened Euro 6 emission regulations, while producing a maximum of 136 horsepower and 30.6 kg-meters of torque, which are up 6.3 percent and 10.9 percent from the previous model, it added.

The price tag for the new Accent ranges from 16.75 million won (US$15,227) to 19.27 million for the four-door model, while the five-door model is priced at 17.5-19.42 million won. (Yonhap)