Left Lane News - Review: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

But after spending a week with the car, we’ve had a longer chance to become acquainted with each other.

Come along for the ride as we rediscover the 2012 Hyundai Veloster .

What is it?

Hyundai claims its new Veloster is an example of “the coupé, redefined.” Seeing that most others are trying to convince the buying public that four-door, swoopy designs are the equivalent of a four-door coupe, we ask “why not?”

As it is, the Veloster is a four-seat, three doors-and-a-hatch coupé that appears to be just the ticket for first-time buyers, college students, retirees, and just those who are looking for a little fun in a stylish, if a bit quirky, ride.

In spirit, Veloster kind of replaces Hyundai’s departed Tiburon, a less-than-loved sporty-looking coupe. With only a 1.6-liter engine, it slots in well below the dynamically impressive but hardly big-selling Genesis Coupe.

What’s it up against?

The Ford Fiesta , Mini Cooper, Honda Fit , Fiat 500c, Scion tC and perhaps the Volkswagen Beetle , are all players in the field that can potentially give the Veloster fits.

Essentially it comes down to your taste in style, size, and the thickness of your wallet, since no car in this segment really cuts the same shadow.

Any breakthroughs?

Did we mention that passenger-side rear door? Oh right, we did. That design move alone puts the Veloster in a rare place, especially for a Korean automaker: That of an innovator. We think it was a conscious effort to keep things safe for rear seat passengers by making the door available only on the passenger side. Sure, a passenger can still enter through the left side by flipping the driver seat forward.

Hyundai even claims that at 40 mpg, the Veloster achieves better highway mileage than Honda ’s CR–Z hybrid. A standard Blue Link Telematics system is included for other standard, and optionally available features. Every vehicle whether equipped with navi or not, gets a standard multi–function LG-brand seven-inch touch–screen monitor for control of the in-car entertainment as well as videogame console connectivity.

How does it look?

The new Veloster appears as though it’s the love child of the Genesis Coupe and Aston Martin ’s new One-77 supercar. Featuring the same front fascia–mounted intakes (although not functional here) the Veloster appears to really be trying to flatter the Aston Martin. The look mostly works. From the side, and with its blacked-out A-pillars it manages to channel its inner Bell Helmet.

Read More: http://www.leftlanenews.com/hyundai-veloster-review.html#

Hyundai Confirms Turbo Veloster and More-Powerful Genesis Coupe for Detroit Auto Show

Our long national nightmare is over: A 1.6-liter turbocharged Veloster—spy photos of which can be seen here—has been confirmed for America. The forced-induction version was known to be on the way even before the base car dropped at the 2011 Detroit auto show, but it’s taken until now for the company to show its hand. Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik announced the car tonight at an event on the eve of the 2011 SEMA show in Las Vegas.


Krafcik promised the car would debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show in January alongside a face-lifted Genesis coupe. An output announcement wasn’t part of the deal, but word recently slipped out of Korea that the turbocharged 1.6-liter four would make 204 hp. The Veloster’s current turbo-free 1.6-liter makes 138 hp; it isn’t quick, hitting 60 in 8.5 seconds, but the bigger issue is that the car as a whole isn’t particularly involving.

If the 204-hp number proves accurate, that would put the top-dog Veloster precariously close to the base Genesis coupe‘s 210-hp figure. But Krafcik added that that the latter’s 2.0-liter turbo four would “have its knob turned to the right” to create more separation, and that the 306-horse, naturally aspirated V-6 would follow suit. The Veloster’s front-wheel-drive layout and super-wacky door arrangement apparently aren’t enough to delineate the models.

In addition to more power, the 2013 Genesis coupe will get a more Veloster-like nose. Because, you know, Hyundai wants to differentiate the two.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai-confirms-turbo-veloster-and-more-powerful-genesis-coupe-for-detroit-auto-show/

Chicago Hyundai

Hyundai and ARK Performance Boost the Veloster for SEMA

Hyundai’s new Veloster is certainly different-looking, but’s hardly more exciting to drive than an Elantra. Hoping to boost its sport compact cred at next month’s SEMA show, Hyundai has enlisted the help of a tuner called ARK Performance to dress its odd duck with a parts-catalog worth of rally-inspired show and go bits.

Under the hood, ARK strapped a twin-scroll turbocharger to the Veloster’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine heating things up to 210 hp. While this application is pure aftermarket, we expect to see similar results once Hyundai unleashes it’s own factory-blown Veloster sometime next year.

A coil-over suspension, improved control arms, front and rear sway bars, and a front strut tower brace should help to sharpen the car’s reflexes and improve roadholding. Stopping power is increased thanks to ARK’s big brake kit, which includes a pair of six-piston calipers for the front. Outside, matte grey and ecto green paint cover the car’s wide-body transformation, which includes a wide-mouthed front fascia, flared fenders, new side skirts, a spoiler bolted to the hatch, and four polished exhaust tips shooting out the back. Because no rally car is complete without one, the interior features a rally-style roll-cage. And because no SEMA car is complete without it, Alcantara wraps nearly every surface to be found.

Usually, hot-rodded SEMA cars aren’t indicative of any actual production plans from manufacturers; in fact, many cars that appear at the show are there trying to overcome a perception of performance and fun. (See: Honda’s fleet of slammed Insights last year, for example.) Let’s hope this one’s a bit different.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai-and-ark-performance-boost-the-veloster-for-sema/

Hyundai Veloster (Hyundai i15) photogallery, stills

The Hyundai Veloster is a squeeze sport coupe set to statesman income in the Summer[when?] of 2011. It was undraped on Jan 10, 2011, at the Detroit motorcar appear, and gift alter the pass parcel when Hyundai discontinued the Tiburon after the 2008 mold period.

The car is antithetical from umteen competitors as it has one entranceway on the utility broadside and two on the passenger face. The Veloster uses Hyundai's new BlueLink system, which is correspondent to OnStar misused in GM vehicles, providing customers with autoloading hurl notification, container medicine, etc.