While we've known about a dual-clutch gearbox going in fast Hyundais for a little while (to be honest, the speculation began at the i30 N's launch) it's confirmation is no less interesting with prior knowledge. Because, being Hyundai, this Veloster N dual-clutch gearbox installation isn't the same as all the others...
Eight speeds is notable in this sector, for starters. While BMW has fitted an eight-speed to its M135i, it's a conventional automatic, while those dual-clutch transmissions out there - such as in the Mercedes-AMG A35 and upcoming Golf GTI/Cupra Leon pair - use seven speeds. It's a wet clutch DCT rather than dry because of the torque output, promises "the engaging experience of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic" and, in a Veloster, can scoot the car from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, a handy half-second improvement on a manual i30 N Performance.
There's more, too. Hyundai has equipped the Veloster N DCT with N Grin Shift (no, really, it's NGS in the press release), which appears to act like Porsche's Sport Response Button (or PSRB for the cool kids). Press it and overboost permits torque to increase by seven per cent from 260 to 278lb ft and the transmission is at its sharpest for 20 seconds - exactly like the Porsche system.
There's also something called NTS, or N Track Sense Shift, which sounds a lot like a clever race mode. Hyundai says the DCT "discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving", then selects just the right gear at just like the right time, "like a professional race car driver to provide optimal performance."
Finally, Hyundai has coined something called N Power Shift - NPS in the acronym bank. It functions with the throttle more than 90 per cent applied, apparently "mitigating any reduction in torque by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels." Sounds like one that might make more sense in the real world.
In this Veloster N, as in an i30 N, all those features will be configurable in the infotainment system. Just in case drivers needed more to set up in a fast Hyundai (!). The Veloster N DCT will go on sale in South Korea later in April, followed by other markets. Then, presumably, it's just a case of waiting until it ends up in the i30...
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