Hyundai Veloster confirmed for Australia

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By Alborz Fallah | March 21st, 2011

As part of Hyundai’s plan to capture a bigger slice of the youth market, the company is set to bring in the new Veloster for an Australian launch before the end of 2011.

The sporty and aggressively styled Hyundai Veloster is currently on display near the Sydney Opera House as part of Hyundai’s sponsorship of the YouTube symphony orchestra.

Much like the Mini Cooper Clubman, the Veloster makes use of a peculiar three-door design. Unlike the Clubman though, the Veloster will have the third door placed appropriately on the left hand side for the Australian market.

Although details are so far sketchy, we believe Hyundai will launch a performance version of the Veloster in due time, with a possibility of a 2.0-litre engine or a 1.6-litre turbo.

The first variants to be launched will be powered by an all-new 1.6-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine. Buyers will be able to pick from either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (a first for Hyundai).

CarAdvice got to briefly sit inside a right-hand drive version of a Veloster and can report that its interior build quality was top-notch. It will include Bluetooth and a full compliment of safety features. The sporty seats were conformable but the rear headroom was a little short.

The use of a conventional third door instead of a suicide door also helps make getting in and out of the Veloster much easier.

Expect a whole heap more news on the Hyundai Veloster over the course of this year.

Tim

With a competitive price, these will be snapped up by 20-30 year olds.

andronicus

I wish i had waited before buying a new car….I’m the demographic they are aiming at this at and would definately consider it pending a test drive..

Shak

Its very refreshing to hear that some Marques, namely Hyundai and KIA actually seem to care about our market, and not just think of us as a tiny market that is stupid enough to pay over-exorbitant prices for most cars. They are tuning their cars for our ‘actual’ needs, and not some supposed idea of how we like exactly what Europe likes in certain cases, or what the NA market likes in certain cases. We may be small, but if someone like Hyundai/KIA can put the effort in to do “region-specific tuning”, then no one else really has any excuses.

Baddass

Well, we must be pretty stupid then Shak, because it seems like every limited edition sports/supercar that comes to Australia these days is snapped up immediately at double the price of one in Europe. As long as ‘stupid’ people buy the cars, the marques will keep the high prices.
By the way, if you’re so sick of paying high prices for cars, why do you keep buying them? I would have thought you’d be losing money with such a high turnover of cars…
Nick01

Well said Shak!

Al Juraj

What we really need is the Genesis coupe!
Genesis coupe!

Totally agree, would love to see the Genesis coupe in Aus, I already emailed Hyundai Australia letting them know that.

There is also a facebook group to try and get the Genesis coupe! in Aus.
Hung Low

The only problem with the Genesis coupe is the 370Z which outperforms it. Unless Hyundai can bring it in cheaper than the Nissan or with the V8, it is going to be a bit of a wood duck!

idlebrain

You’re comparing 2 seats coupe vs 4 seats copue and I don’t think they’re under the same category. Genesis coupe is more like poor man’s G37 which is not on sale in Australia.

Jackson

It looks good, but a poor mans Scirocco.

Nick01

The Commodore is a poor man’s Mercedes E class….what’s your point?

Labrys

Which would be relevant if we got the Scirocco.
Which we don’t.
Admittedly thats unfortunate since it’s a great car.

Arky

Poor man’s Citroen DS3 more like.

Henry

this will be accepted by 20 year olds just like the Kia Koup but it will a tough competition.
delux

I really like this car. Think im gonna need to start a hairdressing apprenticeship so i can justify driving it.
Mark

A. I’m joining that group to bring the genisis to AUS on Facebook.
B. You can’t say a poor mans sirocco when the sirocco is only sold via grey imports.
C. Commodore is poor mans E-class!!! Best phrase ever!! So true!
D. No a fan of the mini clubman like door.
E. I would by a tiburon over this with schmick sounding 2.7lt V6 over this thing.
http://N/A Euromix

This car looks amazing. I am 42 and this car appeals to me very much. Will check it out at the Melbourne Motor Show this weekend. Currently driving a Mazda 2 and loving that car alot. So, will be hard to move from Mazda to Hyundai….although this car looks cool!
Adriana

Woww!! Can not wait until this car is released into Australia! Definitely my next new car
Fireater

Funny thing ya know. It looks flash but at the end of the day when you are driving it, it is like a Kia Rio. All I am interested in among all the other hopefully givens is sound system and fuel economy.
I also defy any car tester to disclose the conditions they use for the acceleration test. If we knew what they were, they would be harmful to repeat. In fact, I am not even sure the last time I reached the legal speed limit. When I get on a freeway, a few decent shoves on the throttle, nothing silly and I am at 80 or so kph, well out of danger. Then all I want is minimal revs to cruise with and andI don’t mind down shifting at all.
When they make one that does 4liters per 100k in petrol form, then I’ll get excited. But at the end of the day……….get over it.