Hyundai Takes Wraps Off Veloster Redesign

DETROIT – Hyundai takes the wraps off its second-generation Veloster coupe here today at the 2018 North American International Auto Show.

The current Veloster is Hyundai’s longest-serving model in the U.S., not fully redesigned since it was launched in fall 2011.

The next-generation Veloster, on sale in the summer as a ’19 model, gets some fairly major design changes, a new base engine and a standard multilink rear suspension, as it moves away from a car that was “all things for all people” to one with a sportier character, Mike Evanoff, manager-product planning at Hyundai Motor America tells media during a NAIAS preview at Hyundai’s Michigan R&D center.

“The designers used the key phrase ‘city rally car’ (to guide them). It’s got a really wide aggressive stance,” Evanoff says.

Design changes include moving back the junction of the A-pillar and the hood, to make the hood look longer, the addition of Hyundai’s signature “cascading” grille, a more coupe-like fender line, as well as front and rear air curtains, the latter feature a rarity within Hyundai’s lineup, he says.

The liftgate handle is moved off the liftgate and closer to the rear-glass wiper, giving the rear of the car a sleeker appearance.

Sticking around from first to second generation is the car’s small third door on the passenger side, which Evanoff says HMA fought to keep as it is “iconic” to the Veloster.

Also still featured is a center exhaust – a design challenge given a revised rear suspension, Evanoff says – that is now functional rather than decorative as in the first-gen model.

“I think we’ve seen so many – and (with the) last generation we could be accused of that as well – fake trim rings in the fascia and the unfinished exhaust not connected behind,” he says. “But these are the actual exhaust outlets exiting the rear of the vehicle, which I think really supports that fun-to-drive positioning.”

The look of the outlets is slightly different depending on whether the Veloster is equipped with its new base engine, a 147-hp 2.0L 4-cyl., or Hyundai’s 1.6L turbocharged and direct-injected 4-cyl., the latter used in the current Veloster Turbo and Elantra Sport, and due in the new Kona small CUV.

The base engine in the ’17 Veloster (there was no ’18 model year) is a 132-hp non-turbocharged 1.6L DI 4-cyl.

As it does in the current Veloster Turbo, the 1.6L turbo makes 201 hp and 195 lb.-ft. (264 Nm) of torque. However, Evanoff says the torque peaks sooner in the new model, at an estimated 1,500 rpm compared with 1,750 in the ’17 Veloster Turbo.

The 1.6L turbo carries over as the sole engine in the R-Spec grade of the Veloster, where it is married to a 6-speed manual transmission. Michelin 18-in. performance summer tires are available only on the R-Spec.

In non-R-Spec ’19 Velosters with the turbo engine, buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual or Hyundai’s 7-speed DCT.

In ’19 Velosters with the 2.0L, the transmission choices are a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.

Evanoff says models equipped with the 7-speed DCT will not upshift during cornering, to enhance the car’s sporty character. Also making for a more exhilarating experience behind the wheel is a higher-ratio steering gearbox for quicker response to inputs.

Dimensionally the new Veloster hews closely to the outgoing model, with just slight increases in wheelbase, overall length and width.

For increased comfort, rear headroom grows 0.6 ins. (15 mm) from ’17 to ’19.

The Veloster undergoes a transformation inside, although its passenger space still is inspired by motorcycles.

The center stack now is more driver-oriented, and differing colors are used on left and right sides of the instrument panel.

Five different color themes will be available, four largely black and one beige with black, tied to the ’19 Veloster’s trim levels: 2.0, Premium, Turbo R-Spec, Turbo and Turbo Ultimate. The Turbo Ultimate will offer a black roof option.

New available or standard comfort and convenience features include a Qi wireless phone charger, three selectable drive modes, an Infinity audio system (replacing Hyundai’s own Dimension-branded system in the ’17 model), performance gauges and a head-up display. The latter is a lower-cost combiner-type display, projecting vehicle data onto a piece of plexiglass atop the gauge cluster rather than the windshield.

A rearview camera with guidelines is standard, while available safety technologies include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, blindspot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. The latter two should be helpful to those owners who complained about the first-gen car’s poor rear visibility, Evanoff says.

Veloster U.S. sales took a steep dive in 2017, falling 57.9% to 12,658, WardsAuto data shows. The car’s record year was 2012, when 34,862 units were sold in the U.S.

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