Hyundai first unveiled the Veloster three-door coupê to the world at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. The unique Veloster concept promised to add a whole new type of appeal to the Hyundai badge. Five years on and we are getting close to its much anticipated South Africa arrival. Hyundai have reliably told us to expect local launch in October this year.
Hyundai took inspiration for the Veloster from high performance sport bikes. Black A-pillars are meant to give the glass house the look of a motorcycle helmet visor. The Veloster also sports an inflamed Hyundai hexagonal front grille, hood scoops, signature LED day time running lights and a thin rear-facing glass house. An optional panoramic sunroof, dual centre chrome exhausts and top of the line 18-inch wheels ensure the Veloster gets its passport stamped into the head turning coupê class.
The motorcycle inspiration continues on the inside with a centre stack that resembles a sport bikes fuel tank (where have we seen that before – Ed.). The Veloster will incorporate a push-button starter, a distinctive honeycomb texture wrap for the dashboard and air vents that mimic a motorcycle’s tailpipes. Much has been said about ‘that’ third door of the Veloster. We don’t mind it in theory. From the outset it gives the Veloster a unique novelty appeal over its regular coupe-cum-hatchback competitors. Think Renault Megane Coupê, Opel Astra GTC, Honda CRZ, Peugoet RC-Z, Volkswagen Scirocco. That could be the little bit of individuality we haven’t seen from the Koreans yet.
Hyundai are going all out with this third door business. Completely changing the asymmetrical bodies at great expense to themselves – to ensure the rear door opens onto the sidewalk for both left and right hand drive markets. Good on yah Hyundai.
Under the bonnet we hope to find an all-new engine from Hyundai. After much testing and convincing Hyundai HQ of its durability with South African fuel, the 1.6-litre 4-cylinder Gasoline Direct Injection technology (GDI) should make its debut. Producing 102 kW & 166 Nm, consuming a claimed figure of 7.2 L/100km and emitting 142 g/km of CO2; the normally aspirated unit is capable of sprinting the Veloster from 0 – 100 km/h in less than 9 seconds.
A turbo charged version of this 1.6 litre GDI engine has just made its debut in the Veloster overseas, as has a new dual-clutch automatic transmission. If the 1.6 GDI engine is anything to go by, don’t bank on the turbo engine or dual-clutch transmission arriving in South Africa for a while yet. Welcoming the new GDI in the Veloster in October, however, will be a significant stepping stone in getting the new technology here eventually.
