The Ark Performance Veloster, a concept version of the new turbo-hatchback Hyundai will unveil at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
Horsepower, it seems, is quickly becoming as much a push at Hyundai as fuel-economy.
The maker unleashed a half-dozen high-performance concept vehicles at this year’s big aftermarket event in Las Vegas, the annual SEMA Show, and at least two of them will influence future production products, including both a turbocharged Veloster and a possible V-8-powered version of the Genesis Coupe.
During a SEMA preview, Hyundai of America CEO John Krafcik confirmed plans to add the turbo to the well-reviewed, if somewhat anemic Veloster, revealing that it will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January and hit showrooms soon afterwards.
The production model will be influenced by the bold ARK Performance Veloster, a customized SEMA one-off that uses a twin-scroll turbo to squeeze 210 hp out of the hatchback. Though Krafcik cautioned that the final numbers for the production Veloster Turbo haven’t been finalized, it should see somewhere in the range of a 50% bump over the 138-hp naturally aspirated version.
The Hyundai 5.0-liter V-8 "shoehorned into" the Genesis Coupe.
Among the other SEMA Show concepts at the Hyundai stand, Rhys Millen Racing delivered a customer version of Hyundai’s performance coupe, the RM500 Genesis Coupe, which substitutes the Korean maker’s 5.0-liter V-8 for the current 3.8-liter V-6.
“It fits,” pronounced Krafcik, who appeared surprised by the news, “and it was a very simple installation.” That means there’d be an opportunity to use the V-8 in the popular Genesis Coupe without having to make any costly modifications to body or frame.
The so-called Tau V-8 is already available in a performance version of the bigger Genesis sedan launched earlier in the year and dubbed the R-Spec.
The Rhys Millen RM500 Genesis Coupe.
“From the moment I saw the Tau V-8 engine in the Genesis R-Spec sedan, I knew it would be a perfect fit for the Genesis Coupe, adding even more performance and power to the dynamic coupe,” said Rhys Millen, who also revealed his own take on the Veloster with a concept rally car.
Could a 450-horsepower Genesis Coupe be in the works?
“It’s certainly a possibility,” said Hyundai CEO Krafcik, adding that he would “lover to hear feedback” from the SEMA audience. It would be no surprise, meanwhile, if the maker continues testing the water on the car show circuit in Los Angeles, this month, and then Detroit, before making a final decision.