Hyundai unveiled the Hyundai Veloster early in 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show. The coupe succeeded the Hyundai Tiburon or Hyundai Coupe, which ceased production since 2008.
One of the standout features of the Veloster is its asymmetrical door configuration. There is one large door on the driver's side and two smaller doors on the passenger side, a style commonly seen on commercial vehicles and minivans. The North American variant of the car comes with Blue Link, a new telematics system that Hyundai claims will soon be standard on all Hyundai models. The system provides drivers with vehicle diagnostics, remote control of vehicle features, and automatic crash notification, among others.
The development of its concept, Hyundai HND-3, took place at Hyundai's Design and Technical Center. The concept car codenamed FS previewed the Veloster at the 2007 Seoul Motor show.
First Generation (2011-2017)
Hyundai built the first-generation Velosters in Ulsan, South Korea and Thonburi, Thailand. This generation rolled off the factories with direct-injected 1.6L four-cylinder engine producing 103 kW and 167 Nm of torque paired with standard six-speed manual transmission. Also available as an option is a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters. This transmission is Hyundai's proprietary technology and is its first attempt at developing a DCT.
The European versions of the vehicle came with a standard 6-speed manual transmission, with option for a DCT automatic gearbox. European entry-level models came with a "Bluedrive" option, which added low-rolling-resistance tyres and stop-start technology to reduce carbon emissions. Unlike some cars (the Mini Clubman easily comes to mind) that always have doors located on the same side of the car, the Veloster has market-dependent door styles based on right-hand or left-hand drive configuration. The wide single-door always comes on the driver's side, while the two smaller doors are consistently on the passenger's side.
Over the first-generation era, the Veloster saw several facelifts, most of which dealt with the cosmetic angle of the car rather than on significant engine or performance improvement.
Special editions include the 2011 ARK Performance Veloster which Hyundai built for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. It came with new twin-scroll turbocharger, intercooler, turbo manifold, downpipe and dual exhaust and an estimated power of 157 kW. There were exterior changes too, with the car brandishing a body kit with new front lip spoiler, custom lights, Rally Armor mud flaps, ARK grille, side skirts, rear bumper and wide-body fender kit, and rear wing mount. The modifications didn't end there, as other features include an oil cooler, anti-roll bars, a coil-over suspension, a lightweight pulley system, bigger six-piston brakes, and new control arms.
Another first-generation version was the Veloster Turbo, which came with a 1.6L T-GDi Gamma engine. In North America, the engine produced 150 kW of power and 250 Nm of torque, while in Europe it had an output of 137 kW and the same torque. The Turbo model had distinct body panels and turbo badging with standard equipment that included LED lights, oversized twin exhausts, side skirts, a much broader front grille, and a push-button start. SatNav and a backup camera were available on the higher trim levels.
Some of the other models of the first generation are the Veloster Re:Flex Edition, Veloster Re:Mix, Hyundai Veloster Zombie Survival Machine concept, Veloster C3 Roll Top concept, and the Veloster Rally Sport Canadian Edition (available for 2016 only).
Here are the full engine specifications for the first generation of the Hyundai Veloster:
- Veloster Gamma 1.6 MPi (2011-2018) — 96 kW, 157 Nm
- Veloster Gamma 1.6 GDi (2011–2018) —103 kW, 167 Nm
- Veloster Turbo 1.6 TCi GDi (2012—2018) —150 kW, 265 Nm
The Veloster Gamma 1.6 MPi version had a 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmission. The Veloster Gamma 1.6 GDi came with the options for either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed DCT transmission. The 2012-2015 model of the Veloster Turbo 1.6 TCi GDi was available for 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual gearbox, while the 2016-2018 versions of the vehicle came with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic DCT transmission.
Second Generation (2019-present)
Production of the second generation began in 2017. Its unveiling took place early the following year at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. Although the new generation featured a brand new design, it still retained the asymmetrical shape of the first generation. The latest Velosters incorporated modern safety features like lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, and a driver attention monitor. All versions in this generation come equipped with multi-link suspension and torque vectoring control.
Here are the models that comprise the second generation: the base Veloster, the Veloster 2.0 Premium, the Veloster Turbo R-Spec, Veloster Turbo, and the Veloster Turbo Ultimate. A new naturally-aspirated 2.0L I4 engine comes with the base Veloster and the Veloster Premium, producing 110 kW and 179 Nm. The complete engine specifications of the second-generation Veloster are the following:
- Nu 2.0 MPi — 110 kW, 179 Nm
- Kappa 1.4 T-GDi — 103 kW, 242 Nm
- Gamma 1.6 T-GDi — 150 kW, 265 Nm
- Theta 2.0 T-GDi — 184/202 kW, 353 Nm
*All the listed engines are petrol engines.
Safety
The EURO NCAP released the following test results for the Veloster after a safety test:
- Overall points - 5 stars (101 points)
- Adult occupant - 96% (35 points)
- Child Occupant - 89% (43 points)
- Pedestrian - 49% (18 points)
- Safety assist - 71% (5 points)
Author:
Cyril N.