New Hyundai Veloster Revealed

Hyundai has pulled the drapes off its second-generation Veloster at the 2018 Detroit motor show and at first look it appears to carry-on much of the same script as before.

The South Korean maker claims it's an all-new design that now sits on the same underpinnings as the latest-generation i30 hatch but it hasn’t deviated too far from its original recipe. 

It still carries over the quirky asymmetrical door layout – with two doors on the passenger side and one door on the driver side – and remains front-wheel drive with a choice of either naturally-aspirated or turbo charged engines.

Styling changes up front include a three-dimensional version of Hyundai’s signature cascading front grille that sits between new LED headlights with integrated running lights and a more aggressive but functional lower splitter that cuts into the air intakes to form air fences and improve aerodynamics.

Hyundai claims the Veloster’s profile is also sharper with more pronounced wheel arches at either end while the A-pillar has been placed further rearward to give it a sportier stance.

The rear end sees the most notable visual differences with LED tail lights that rise up to form the C-pillar and a centre-mounted exhaust outlet in the bold diffuser.

Two engines will be available, a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre four cylinder running an Atkinson Cycle ignition set-up that balances performance with economy and a sportier 1.6-litre turbo charged four-cylinder, with the base Veloster variant offering up 110Kw and 180Nm through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The sportier 1.6-litre turbo engine found in the Veloster SR variant will produce a mightier 150kW and 265Nm with a temporary overboost function that bumps up torque to 273Nm during heavy acceleration. Transmission options for the more powerful SR will be either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Active Sound Design, which Hyundai says “enhances intake and exhaust powertrain character sound inside the cabin for a more visceral driving experience, especially during spirited driving,” will also feature in the higher-spec variant.

Both engine options also feature torque vectoring control across the front axle to improve handling while the turbo models have an exclusive independent rear suspension set-up.

Hyundai has also plumped up the Veloster’s safety features with a comprehensive suite of electronic driver aids and crash avoidance features, including automated emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alerts.

Inside is also much more modern than the outgoing model with a striking driver-centric design with heads-up display and floating 7.0 or 8.0-inch (for SR models) centre console-mounted floating tablet screen that can feature a huge array of connectivity functions such as sat nav, digital radio, smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices and a reverse camera as well as wireless phone charging.

Though pricing is yet to be announced, expect the new Veloster to land from the middle of 2018 with a starting price similar to the current model range that starts at under $30,000, making it one of the most affordable sports cars on sale in Australia.

Hyundai Australia will reveal more details on the local Veloster line-up closer to its launch in the middle of the year.

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