Tuesday 31st July 2012

Hotter Hyundai Veloster 'R' on the way?

A turbocharged Veloster is coming but is there something hotter on the way too?

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We weren't massively impressed with the Hyundai Veloster when we drove it a little while back but Hyundai is nothing if not ambitious and seemingly keen to spin more PH-worthy variants off its quirky coupe.

A turbo version is on the way, though for some reason Hyundai has retuned the 204hp engine other markets get to 186hp for Europe. There's a marginal on-paper torque increase from 195lb ft to 199lb ft, Hyundai insisting the change is to suit European driving tastes and has a more torquey feel at low revs. Either way, it's nearly a second slower to 62mph than the 7.4 seconds of the 204hp global version.

With or without a turbo badge, the Veloster isn't exactly squaring up to be a breakout car for Hyundai, at least for the likes of us. But rumours of a hotter version doing the rounds across the pond suggest there may be hope yet.

Various US sites, including Motor Authority, are busy speculating about headroom in the Veloster Turbo that might allow a feistier version to compete with the hotter Mini Coopers, Sciroccos and others Hyundai would like to see the Veloster trading blows with.

There's still some way to go before the Veloster can deliver on the promise of those quirky looks, especially against the likes of those cars, but the Koreans are learning fast and there may yet be a more hot hatch worthy Hyundai for PHers to get excited about.

[Hellbound]

How awesome...if I win the Euromillions tonight I'll be heading straight to my local Hyundai dealer...

[Fire99]

Looks good but Hyundai UK need to realise, British Hot-Hatch buyers like their headline figures. Needs to be over 200bhp to be in the game, IMO.

[SAndals]

At best a faster version means you won't have to look at it for as long.

[TinyCappo]

I love this they have made a fair few revisions for the turbo. As for the remap guessing its for euro emissions spun into a More euro torque feel.....but TBH how long is it going to take before you can get it retuned to get the full power!

Its such a shame they didnt go for the full fat version and used their engine deal they have with mitsubishi for the 2.0 turbo powerplants from the Evos they use in their genesis coupe.

Either way im really looking forward to this and will be going for it as long as they dont make the price silly.

[thewheelman]

Not a bad looker, Hyunadai have come a long way over the years. Now how about selling the Genesis coupe over here?

[Frimley111R]

thewheelman said:

... Now how about selling the Genesis coupe over here?

+1. It'd sell a damn sight more than this ugly thing, turbo or no turbo!

[CliveM]

I don't understand people knocking the looks, I like it. Different is good.

[Dion20vt]

Just a stab in the dark here, but a basic list price on the normal meloster is £18k. so the turbo will be £20k + maybe?! Thats basic Focus ST money!

Edit: The molester Sport is £20k plus... so the turbo will be upwards of that?!

You'd need a good "brave pill" to buy one of these new!

Edited by Dion20vt on Tuesday 31st July 11:05

[WMP]

Looks well and seems quick enough.

They're a force to be reckoned with Hyundai, in a couple more generations of car they will likely be making better cars than the established players and then all they'll need to do is sort the dealerships out.

[Johnboy Mac]

WMP said:

Looks well and seems quick enough.

They're a force to be reckoned with Hyundai, in a couple more generations of car they will likely be making better cars than the established players and then all they'll need to do is sort the dealerships out.

+1

I've nothing but respect for Hyundai.

[Alfa159Ti]

I first look at this and think 'meh'.

Then I remember that it was only 15 years ago that Hyundai were building the Accent Coupe and recall just how far they have come in a short space of time.

And then I think 'fair play to em'.

[iain1970]

Am I right in thinking that Hyundai could plunder the parts bin for the Kia Optima's 275hp 2.0 unit? Might make for a more interesting car.

[StottyZr]

Dion20vt said:

Just a stab in the dark here, but a basic list price on the normal meloster is £18k. so the turbo will be £20k + maybe?! Thats basic Focus ST money!

Edit: The molester Sport is £20k plus... so the turbo will be upwards of that?!

You'd need a good "brave pill" to buy one of these new!

Edited by Dion20vt on Tuesday 31st July 11:05

Have you got a link to pricing information?. The new Focus ST starts at £21,500, and this is 250hp. So for an unknown brand releasing a 180hp hot hatch I'd expect 15-16k!

[Johnboy Mac]

StottyZr said:

an unknown brand

?

[TinyCappo]

iain1970 said:

Am I right in thinking that Hyundai could plunder the parts bin for the Kia Optima's 275hp 2.0 unit? Might make for a more interesting car.

No need.

They have an engine agreement with Mitsubishi that gives them the 2.0 evo 10 engine! they detuned it for the genesis to 210hp but the 2013 will get the full 275hp unit through a manual box or an 8speed auto and a LSD. shame it wont make into here with a nice LSD....or even 4x4 running gear.

Edited by TinyCappo on Tuesday 31st July 12:07

[M@1975]

Currently a little overpriced and underpowered. If they hit the £20k price point and had 210-220 bhp they would sell these pretty easily, I think they'll struggle with that as it is.

Really like that Hyundai are having a go though, I don't think it will be long before they get it right. Oh and as mentioned, Genesis Coupe would be a good thing for them to bring to this market the 3.8 Rspec at a cheap rpice point would be hard to ignore for many.

[K2MDL]

I saw one of these on the road a month or so ago (the standard slow one not the go faster version). It was in a very bright metallic orange and I have to say looked totally stunning. So indeed was the female driving it...

Get the performance right and price and you watch the Veloster start chipping away at the rest of the snoring brands....

[toon10]

It seems the looks are a bit marmite. I really like it. Definately more pleasing to look at than a lot of hatch/coupes out there. Yes I'm talking about you 1 series hatch and the Megane coupe.

I sat in one last week as my other half bought a 2nd hand Rav 4 from the Hyundai dealer in Newcastle. You sit quite low down in the car which I liked. It was a bit plastic and generic inside but certainly wasn't poor. I'm not sure on the 2 doors one side, one on the other though. I like symmetry!

[andrewboom]

Much better in the flesh, and much better in bold colours.

[Bodo]

I like the quirkiness of its styling; however 186hp hardly sounds like sporty; especially given that its weight is about average. The lower threshold for 'hot' in the C segment is at 200hp for Diesels and 250hp for petrol-engines. The Veloster is below both.