Hyundai Veloster 2012 News

The Koreans starred, the Japanese mounted a comeback, and One Ford hit the headlines with an extended family of Focus-based newcomers that it is certain to make a big hit in Australia. But it was one car and the commitment of its company chief that made the most impact as America fought back on the opening day of the 2011 North American International Motor Show. The naturally aspirated version of the front-wheel-drive coupe will hit Australia next month and the US will get the turbo variant in the middle of this year. It is powered by the same 1.6-litre engine, but with a twin-scroll turbo that unleashes 150kW of power, up from 103kW, and 226Nm of torque, up from 167Nm. Yet Hyundai claims a respectable 6.2 litres per 100km fuel consumption. It will feature sport suspension, 18-inch wheels, a bigger grille, fog lamps, LED accent lights, a massive rear diffuser, twin tailpipes, alloy pedals and a 450-watt, eight-speaker sound system. The show car also features matte paint which Hyundai promises will not just be a show attention-getter but will make it into production. Hyundai also showed an upgraded Genesis Coupe for 2013 with a cosmetic mid-life facelift including LED daytime running lights, bigger wheel options and fog lights. It's not all just cosmetics, though. Under the bonnet is some serious tweaking. The four-cylinder gets a 30 per cent power boost to 204kW while the 3.6-litre turbo V6 is up 31kW to 252kW.

"Yes, you will see it there. We cannot wait," HS Lee tells Carsguide.The Veloster is a funky two-door coupe that first appeared as a concept at the Seoul Motor Show in 2007. Since then it has been semi-revealed at a press event in the USA and test cars have been caught  many times by Carparazzi.Lee confirms the basic details of the Veloster but not the critical price or powerplant. But Hyundai USA says it will have fuel economy better than 6.0 litres/100km as it moves to improve its fleet average to 4.7 litres/100km by 2025.The Veloster is expected to be revealed in Detroit alongside a re-styled Accent and several new i45 models - the car is still called Sonata in the USA - including a hybrid and a turbo.

But, clearly, the Veloster is coming up fast.  The new Hyundai coupe is into final testing with showroom-ready cars and much of its camouflage removed to check such important details as cooling and wind noise.The Veloster has already been to Australia once, for the Sydney Motor Show, and it is expected to be on sale early in 2012.  "We need to have an image car in the range and it could provide incremental sales," admits Hyundai's Australian marketing boss, Oliver Mann.The test car caught by Carparazzi is believed to have either a 1.6- litre Gamma engine, similar to the one in the latest i20 and just installed to break the $20,000 price barrier with the i30, or a larger 2-litre Theta powerplant. And there could be turbos...The Veloster uses the same mechanical platform as the Elantra but it is likely to be comprehensively tweaked, if only to avoid the wobbly front-end response from the latest Hyundai i45.But Mann refuses to comment on the car.  "We haven't even got as far as saying that Veloster is coming to Australia," he says."Yes, there is a car. But I would almost lump it in with all the other opportunites. It's in consideration, but there needs to be a business case."

Hyundai has high hopes for its all-new Veloster, which is still running on schedule for a public preview later this year and full-scale sales in 2011.It is caught by Carparazzi with far less disguise than previously, allowing a good look at its racy side profile and an overall size and shape which will take it into battle with the upcoming Toyota FT-86.Carparazzi sources point to two turbocharged engine choices for the Veloster - a 1.6-litre petrol and 2-litre turbodiesel for Europe - as well as Hyundai's first twin-clutch manual-auto gearbox.The two-door coupe is built up over the chassis package of the Elantra but is likely to get - and need - substantial tweaking of the suspension and steering.The Veloster is likely to be very similar in design to the 2007 concept car of the same name, with the boss of Hyundai North America, John Krafcik, promising it will be 70-80 per cent the same and with a four-passenger body designed for sporty driving.

It's the Veloster, which began as a concept car at the Seoul Motor Show in 2007 but is now being quick-tracked to showrooms for 2011.  The two-door coupe will be a total contrast to the car of the same name, the Kia Koup, with much more racy bodywork.But the two cars are likely to share a lot of their mechanical package, including a 2-litre four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. The difference will be in the tweaking, as the Veloster will have direct petrol injection to liberate around 130 kiloWatts.There is also the chance of a Veloster turbo, which would give the car some real kudos.  According to Carparazzi, which caught the Hyundai during winter testing in Scandinavia, a lot of details on the car have leaked during development.Hyundai admits it has seven new models coming in the next 24 months and that the Veloster will be ready for 2011. Company chiefs also say it will have 70-80 per cent in common with the original concept.  It will also be a four-passenger car, but still with the performance and style to compete with the upcoming Honda CR-Z and the Volkswagen Scirocco.

Hyundai design has eye on Y-generationFOR global marketers, the Y-generation is the next big thing. Many are fresh university graduates who have not yet turned 30.They are heavily focused on their chosen careers, technologically savvy and have high expectations of the workplace and their consumer goods.This makes Hyundai's Veloster sports coupe the right car at the right time for this emerging market.Though only a concept, the Veloster gives a hint of what could be a next-generation Tiburon.Hyundai design vice president Oh Suk-Geun says he wanted something different.“We're keenly aware that we need radically new models for the Y-generation, the first-time twentysomething buyer. This is really a bold new direction,” he says.Hyundai unveiled the Veloster at the Seoul Motor Show. Codenamed HND-3, the sleek coupe was styled at Hyundai's design and technical centre at Namyang.It's the third in a series of concepts to be developed by the company's main styling studio.Using the Elantra as a platform, the coupe was designed to evoke the sporty characteristics of a classic two-plus-two. Hyundai incorporated a panoramic glass roof, slim headlights and sharply defined wheel arches to help project a hi-tech image. The car has an iPod docking station in the centre console.At only 4100mm long, 1790mm wide and 1450mm high, the stylish coupe is 65mm longer than the Accent hatch, but 95mm wider and 20mm lower.Power says Hyundai Australia will continue to evaluate the H-1.

The Veloster, which takes its name from the terms velocity and roadster, was unveiled this week at the Seoul Motor Show. Hyundai's vice-president of design, Oh Suk-Geun, says they wanted to try something different with the new prototype."We're keenly aware that we need radically new models for the Y-generation, the first-time, twentysomething buyer, and this is really a bold new direction," he says.The Veloster features a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. It has a panoramic glass roof and 20-inch alloy wheels.Hyundai also unveiled the FD Elantra Wagon, which could indicate a return to the small wagon segment.But Hyundai says no decision has been made as to whether the wagon will come to Australia.The display model was styled at the company's European Design Centre and has been fitted with a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine.