Hyundai puts the Veloster Turbo on steroids, bumping horsepower up by nearly 50%.
The Hyundai Veloster is certainly a head-turner, but the unusual 3-door coupe that came to market last year was more poseur than powerhouse, with a little engine that couldn’t. No more. In a surprisingly rapid response to customer demand, the maker is rolling out a new turbo model for 2013.
Hyundai officials admit they were taken a bit by surprise. They didn’t think the market would want a truly sporty version of the little Veloster, which features twin doors on the passenger side and a single door on the driver’s side – plus a hatchback. But the desire for more power became quickly apparent as media and buyers alike raved about the Veloster’s basics but lamented its lack of performance.
“The Turbo further broadens Veloster’s hero role in the Hyundai line-up to attract our next generation of buyers,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, product and corporate planning, Hyundai Motor America.
The Turbo also gets some unique interior touches, such as the sports seats.
Set to reach market sometime over the summer, the new 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo will better position the quirky little model to go up against the likes of the Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si and Mini Cooper, the Korean carmaker is betting.
The 1.6-liter Direct Injection inline-four uses a twin-scroll turbocharger to make 201 horsepower – working out to an impressive 125.6 hp per liter – about 63 more than the original, naturally aspirated Veloster. But the Turbo is still rated at 38 mpg on the Highway.
While horsepower matches the best-in-segment Civic Si, the 195 lb-ft of torque is bested by only the GTI, at 207 lb-ft.
The Hyundai Veloster Turbo maintains the original coupe's asymetric door design.
The Turbo gets a new sport-tuned intake and exhaust note which should also enhance the rather wimpy sound of the original, especially under wide-open throttle.
On the appearance side, the new Veloster Turbo will feature a unique front fascia, foglights and ground effects. It also gets new 18-inch alloy wheels.
Lighting migrates to new projection headlamps with LED accents, up front, and unique LED taillamps.
There are also a number of interior enhancements, as this image illustrates, with heated front seats standard on the Veloster Turbo.