Hyundai Veloster 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.

…car makers at this year’s show are bringing out their brightest, biggest and newest to amaze and delight. Here are just some of the highlights: BMW VISION ED: The headliner at the show is a technology hero first, but is also a great looker that points to the future design direction at BMW. FORD TERRITORY: There are plenty of SUVs at the show, and Holden and Mazda have concept utes, but the Aussie wagon is the one to see. It shows Ford’s new design direction and brings an efficient diesel to local car making. HYUNDAI VELOSTER: Fun is returning to the Korean brand, thanks to a compact coupe that looks great and should be better to drive than earlier two-door Hyundais. LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR: Outrageous, outrageous, outrageous. The new Italian stallion looks wicked and has the V12 engine and all-wheel drive to convert show to go. MERCEDES-BENZ SLK: A bright new convertible to wipe away the winter blues. The third-generation SLK is being previewed with the C-Class coupe. TOYOTA FT-86 II: The countdown to Toyota’s make-or-break sports car is into the final stages, with the FT-86 concept now in its second generation. It could wear Celica badges when it hits the road in 2012. SUBARU XV: It could be the next Forester but it’s not. Instead, the XV previews an all-new – and much more youthful – direction for a baby SUV that will be built from the basics of the new Impreza, also at the show. PORSCHE CAYMAN R: The lighter and faster pocket rocket in the Porsche family. The Cayman has been tweaked for speed and hogs the spotlight while Porsche prepares for its all-new 911 this year.

The staggering number is a reflection of the rebounding climate in the Australian automotive industry, and the commitment that manufacturers are making to the new one-show-per-year format. “We have more new models and concepts coming than any show I can recall in recent times,” said Australian International Motor Show event director, Russ Tyrie. “A number of our exhibitors are displaying four or five new models and concepts, which is a tremendous coup for the motor show. “It promises to be an exciting event with visitors being able to see such a large number of vehicles that they have never seen before.” While concept cars will undoubtedly steal the show, there will be a number of very important new models being unveiled that are likely to get the attention of the new car buyer. At the top of the list are the upcoming supercars and high-end luxury cars, such as the outrageous V12 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, the production version of the aurally intimidating Lexus LFA, the exclusive Audi R8 GT – one of only 333 in the world, Maserati’s fastest road car – the MC Stradale and the Bentley Continental GT. In addition to the R8 GT, Audi will also present the new technologically-advanced A6 luxury sedan for the first time in Australia. Hyundai will be one of the standouts at the Melbourne event, with the new Veloster three-door sports car, the curvaceous new Elantra and the Accent small car all taking their bows. Toyota has announced that it will debut its all-new Yaris city car, while a new Hilux will also be on show at the stand of Australia’s highest-selling car company. Jaguar will present its upgraded XF sedan, while stablemate Land Rover will reveal the highly-anticipated Range Rover Evoque five-door for the first time on Australian soil. Peugeot will launch the brand new, elegantly-designed, all-diesel 508 sedan and wagon, while the company’s most popular model in this market, the 308 receives a facelift for the 2012 model year. Skoda’s presence in the Australian market is rapidly growing, and the company will double its model range in coming months with the Fabia and the Yeti crossover adding to the Octavia and Superb ranges – all of which will be on show in Melbourne. A car that has been the subject of much lobbying for an Australian launch (by the media and public alike) has been the Volkswagen Scirocco R. The German car company has now given the sleek coupe the go-ahead, and it will make its first local appearance at the motor show. Subaru’s stand will be the venue for a world premiere, with the right-hand drive version of its important new Impreza sedan making its very first appearance at the Australian International Motor Show. In addition, Holden, Kia and Mercedes-Benz have promised glimpses of at least nine future and upcoming models between them. “It all adds up to an action-packed show – and a huge amount of choice for anyone looking for a new car!” said Mr Tyrie. The Australian International Motor Show is on at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and opens at 6pm on Friday 1 July and runs until Sunday 10 July.

The Veloster, which started life as a concept and this week revealed itself at the Detroit motor show, is confirmed for Australia late this year.  Hyundai Australia's Ben Hershman says the Veloster's unusual three-door layout - one door on the driver's side and two doors on the opposite side - will allow easy access to the rear. That's something every coupe owner has dreamed of.The trick may be which side has the two doors for our right-hand drive market.  Shown in Detroit, the two doors are on the right side. In our case, that's behind the driver and means rear passengers will access to the traffic side, not the curb side as for left-drive markets.Mr Hershman insists Australia gets it right - two doors on the passenger side - meaning Hyundai is prepared to stamp up side and door panels for two markets.Which makes you wonder why the three doors - if you've got the metal presses running two sets with two doors, why not make it a four-door coupe?  As shown in Detroit, the Veloster reflects the long-gone S-Coupe with a small engine - in this case, a 102kW/167Nm 1.6-litre four - mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch auto.But maybe performance isn't its bag.  The Veloster gets Hyundai's Blue Link telematics system that integrates everything from service schedule alerts to restaurant ratings, remote start and stolen vehicle slowdown.US buyers also have a subscription service to access more information - such as internet and traffic reports - that runs through the Veloster's standard-fit 175mm touch screen.

A funky two-door coupe that first appeared as a concept at the Seoul Motor Show in 2007, the Veloster has been semi-revealed at a press event in the USA and test cars have been caught  many times by Carparazzi. 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 has already been to Australia once, for the Sydney Motor Show, and it is expected to be on sale early in 2012... we hope (since by then it will have run out of motor shows to attend a morphing concept. Or will it?) More news on the Veloster will be published here as our team hunts down all the news from the Motown motor show... stay tuned.  

"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.