Hyundai's Veloster is oddball small coupe that is expected to start at about $17,000 when it goes on sale this summer.
Not satisfied with one small, sporty coupe, Hyundai has brought the Veloster to production to sit in the stable alongside the Genesis Coupe. That doesn’t mean the Veloster is a spiritual sibling to the Gen Coupe. Far from it. The Gen Coupe is a rear-drive track attacker that intends to play with the Camaro and Mustang. The Veloster is a urban bomber — John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America’s president and CEO, said that Veloster drivers won’t get ticketed when driving at nine-tenths.
Unlike the Gen Coupe, the Veloster is front-wheel drive and will be available with only one available engine: A 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. A rumored 200-horsepower turbo never materialized, but one could still be sold in the future. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters. Wheel choices are either 17-inch or 18-inch. Suspension is a McPherson strut and coil springs up front, and what Hyundai calls a V-torsion beam rear suspension in back. Hyundai says that the Veloster will weigh 2,584 pounds at minimum with the manual trans, and that it can achieve up to 40 mpg highway (EPA ratings aren’t certified yet). Befitting the car’s urban mission, the Veloster will have Hyundai’s new Blue Link telematics system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, and a standard seven-inch touch screen display. Youthful buyers will note that there is a USB port that can perform video playback, plug-in and power ports for video game systems, a location-sharing system, a point-of-interest search, and voice text messaging. There’s also a CD downloading system and Pandora radio. The hatchback design offers one major unique feature — instead of two doors on each side, the driver’s side gets one door while the passenger side gets two. Add in the hatchback and there’s a total of four doors. It makes for an interesting look. Young buyers are often on a budget, and cognizant of that fact, Hyundai will price the Veloster around $17,000 when it goes on sale this summer.