Hyundai Veloster:

Hyundai confirms Veloster concept for 2011

Back in 2007 the Korean automaker Hyundai unveiled the Veloster concept at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. Shortly after the company announced that the sport compact inspired hatchback will become the replacement for the current entry level front wheel drive Tiburon sports coupe. Now its official: Hyundai’s acting President and CEO, John Krafcik, confirmed the Tiburon substitution and that the velocity inspired hatchback should be making its official auto show debut sometime in 2011.

In an interview with Inside Line Krafcik said that the final car will look 70-80% like the Veloster concpet and will pack a surprise body style that will be a segment first: "It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won’t be like anything out there before in the small car segment." Whatever the unique feature is that sets this future Hyundai apart from the competition, we are anxious to see how it handles. The production version will be powered by an economical 1.6 Liter four cylinder using direct injection technology to produce 140 HP. The small displacement power plant will only consume 40 MPG.

We all feel that the sensible replacement for the Tiburon would be the all new Genesis Coupe, however Hyundai knows that they have a faithful following with their front wheel drive sports styled coupe the Tiburon and didn’t want to price its replacement out of consumer’s price range, in order to get the most out of both markets, so Hyundai and Genesis models will be aimed at different target audiences.

Hyundai Veloster into production and also into USA?

When Hyundai unveiled the Veloster concept back in 2007 at the Seoul Motor Show we all thought it had some potential. But we were also quickly distracted by other larger, shiner objects from Hyundai, namely the Genesis coupe.

Now that the Tiburon is dead, Hyundai is rumored to be resurrecting the plans for the Veloster. If true, the smaller front-wheel drive Veloster would be a nice compliment to Hyundai’s rear-drive hot rod Genesis. It would also give Hyundai a strong coupe lineup.

The logical choice to power this car would be Hyundai’s 2.0-liter four cylinder engine. Power would likely fall between the 138 hp found in the Elentra Touring and the 210 hp when turbocharged for the base Genesis coupe. If all goes well the Veloster may find its way to U.S. dealerships by 2011 or 2012.

2007 Hyundai Veloster

In a demonstration of its growing design and engineering capabilities, Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled three brand-new models at the 2007 Seoul Motor Show which opened at KINTEX today. Leading the trio was the Veloster, a sporty coupe which caters to the unique requirements of the Y-generation.
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