Right now, the Veloster lacks the performance cred to back up its killer looks. But that will change once this 201-hp version hits the streets. The 45 percent boost in horsepower has most folks taking a second look at the Veloster, and hoping this Turbo is a signal that Hyundai is getting as serious about performance as it has been about quality and design over the last few years. Shifting the standard 6-speed manual is a blast. Veloster offers an available 6-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) while the Veloster Turbo has the option of a 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC. Make your choice and the 1.6L GDI engine delivers an EPA-estimated 37 MPG Hwy2 for the Veloster an EPA-estimated 35 MPG Hwy (M/T)2 for the Veloster Turbo.
High-tech entertainment system. 7-inch multimedia touchscreen. Always-on social connectivity. Now the technology you usually find in your living room is with you when you get behind the wheel.So far, though, signs remain cloudy—the stonking 1.6-liter motor with dual exhaust notwithstanding. Word is the Veloster Turbo gets the same suspension, which is disappointing. The stock Veloster is fun but stiff-kneed and less refined when compared to better-bred sporty cars like VW's GTI—or the Subaru BRZ, which is only somewhat costlier than what we're expecting to see from the Veloster Turbo. Also, ask Mini engineers about controlling torque steer in a 200-hp car with a short wheelbase. That, too, has probably made Hyundai sweat.
And that's an understatement. The bold 3-door design, LED headlight accents and raking contour lines make Veloster instantly recognizable. The Turbo includes standard 18-inch alloy wheels, round chrome-tipped dual exhaust, and a special wide-mouthed grille.It's fast. Period. Technically speaking, the twin-scroll turbo has two exhaust gas inlets that provide more efficient power and quicker recovery than a single-scroll turbo. This advanced technology reduces turbo lag, increases low-end power, and provides a more exhilarating driving experience.Our primary reason for getting the matte paint: to see just how much of a pain in the butt it is to live with through all four seasons. As you can see in these photos, the car is currently running through a cold, slushy, snowy Detroit winter, where the hazards of grime and road salt will be of particular interest when it comes time to test the car's cleanability. Stay tuned for more on that.
Paint aside, the Veloster's visuals will no doubt be one of the biggest talking points over our year with the car. Already, this thing is turning heads left and right, and while we're finding that the majority of folks love the way it looks, there's no middle ground with this one. If you don't love it, you hate it. We have yet to meet someone who's on the fence about that one. The Hyundai Veloster is indeed an automotive oddball, and that's part of the reason why we're so drawn to it. Even in base form, the Veloster is a cleverly packaged little wonder that's bursting with personality, and with the added grunt and visual aggression of the Turbo model, there's a lot to talk about.
Despite not really fitting into any one specific vehicle segment (unless you dump it into the all-too-vague "compact" class), the Veloster Turbo looks really good on paper, to say nothing of how it looks on the street. It's certainly a head-turner, and we're intrigued by the overall package of an oddly shaped three-door (or four-door?) with some forced induction motivation.
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