Hyundai Turbo Veloster, Refreshed Genesis Coupe Unveiled in Detroit

DETROIT – Hyundai unveils the much-anticipated turbocharged version of its Veloster sport coupe, as well as a refreshed Genesis Coupe, here today at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

“The turbo further broadens Veloster’s hero role in the Hyundai lineup to attract our next generation of buyers,” Mike O’Brien, Hyundai Motor America vice president-product and corporate planning, says in a statement.

Due this summer as the first of seven new Hyundai models over 11 months, the ’13 Veloster Turbo makes 201 hp at 6,000 rpm. That’s up from the current naturally aspirated Veloster’s 138 hp at 6,300 rpm.

The Veloster Turbo’s peak torque of 195 lb.-ft. (264 Nm) is achieved in a wide band, from 1,750-4,500 rpm, Hyundai says. The current Veloster makes 123 lb.-ft. (167 Nm) at 4,850 rpm.

As in its Sonata Turbo sedan, Hyundai employs a twin-scroll turbocharger to boost output from the Veloster’s gasoline-direct-injected 1.6L all-aluminum 4-cyl.

Hyundai continues to tout the advantages of the twin-scroll over more common single-scroll turbocharger, claiming its split manifold recovers greater energy from exhaust gases.

The twin-scroll design incorporates the stainless-steel exhaust manifold and turbine housing in a “patent-pending” single piece.

Hyundai claims many best-in-class wins for the Veloster Turbo, including 125.6 hp/L, a 38 mpg (6.2 L/100 km) highway fuel-economy rating in 6-speed-manual transmission models and a superior weight-to-power ratio of 14 lbs. (6.4 kg) /hp.

Hyundai considers the Veloster Turbo’s competitive set the ’12 Honda Civic Si coupe, ’12 Volkswagen GTI and’12 Mini Cooper S and Clubman S.

In city fuel economy, the Veloster Turbo, at 27 mpg (8.7 L/100 km), ties the 6-speed automatic Cooper S and Clubman S models.

The boosted Veloster receives several appearance changes from the current model, including two circular exhaust pipes instead of a single trapezoidal design for a “more robust” sound; a “bigger, bolder” hexagonal front grille; lower fascia diffuser vents; and 18-in. gray wheels with chrome inserts that correspond to a Hyundai-first matte-gray paint.

The turbocharged Veloster also has a quicker steering ratio and Kumho Solus 18-in. tires.

Inside, the Veloster Turbo’s seats are stitched with the word “Turbo,” and a 2-screen Supervision Cluster placed between the tachometer and speedometer is standard.

Dimensionally, Hyundai says the turbocharged Veloster is slightly longer and wider than the naturally aspirated Veloster while keeping the same wheelbase.

Also unwrapped at Hyundai’s stand is the refreshed ’13 Genesis Coupe, on sale in February.

The car’s exterior gets a significant makeover, adopting a front fascia similar to that of the Sonata Hybrid sedan, with a horizontal black bar separating the upper and lower grilles. Also new to the’13 model are nonfunctional hood scoops.

All lights from the current ’12 Genesis 2-door are redesigned, including light-emitting-diode daytime running lights, and the car gets new 18-in. and 19-in. wheel designs that are more deeply sculpted.

The Genesis Coupe’s 3.8L V-6 engine, like Hyundai’s 4-cyls. and V-8 before it, adopts direct injection, increasing horsepower by 42 to a peak of 348 and improving torque to 295 lb.-ft. (400 Nm) from the current V-6’s 266 lb.-ft. (361 Nm). Those new figures are based on the use of premium fuel.

Against the ’12 Infiniti G37 and BMW 335i coupe, the Genesis tops both in peak horsepower and power-to-weight ratio, while falling just shy of the 335i’s 300 lb.-ft. (407 Nm) of torque.

With a twin-scroll turbocharger replacing the current Genesis Coupe’s single-scroll turbocharger, and a “more thermally efficient intercooler,” the coupe’s 2.0L turbocharged 4-cyl. engine makes 274 hp and 275 lb.-ft. (373 Nm) of torque with premium fuel, and 260 hp and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) using regular fuel.

The ’12 Genesis 2.0T Coupe is rated at 210 hp and 223 lb.-ft. (302 Nm).

Both the 3.8L and 2.0T ’13 Genesis coupes receive Hyundai’s in-house 8-speed automatic transmission, replacing the current 2.0T’s 5-speed automatic and the 3.8L’s 6-speed automatic. The 8-speed automatic has standard paddle shifters with a manual mode. A revised 6-speed manual, with a claimed better shift feel, also is available.

Inside, the Genesis receives extensive revisions, as media saw at an early November unveiling of a preproduction model at Hyundai’s Superior Twp., MI, technical center.

Speaking at the event, HMA CEO John Krafcik said the interior revisions now make the Genesis Coupe “a more credible” competitor to the luxury G37 and 3-Series, which already were performance benchmarks for the current V-6 model.

The 2-door Genesis’ overall interior feel is more upscale, with softer materials; stitching on the instrument panel and door panels; a reworked center stack with new switchgear; and an electroluminescent gauge cluster.

Hyundai’s BlueLink telematics system now is available on navigation-equipped Genesis coupes.

Hyundai Genesis sales rose 13.3% last year to 32,998 units, WardsAuto data shows. Hyundai doesn’t separate Genesis sedan and coupe sales, but says they typically are split 50/50 each month.

[email protected]