2019 Hyundai Veloster Arrives In Detroit Auto Show, Hot Veloster N Eyeing Civic Type R (With Video)

Hyundai launches its all-new Veloster, bringing with it a more mature take on the quirky design that the hatchback has always been known for.

It still carries the signature 1+2 door configuration, wherein there’s a long driver’s door, and two smaller doors on the passenger side. The front fascia is highlighted by Hyundai’s “cascading grille”, flanked by optional LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights. Two character lines run over the wheel arches, highlighting the hatch’s sporting intentions. At the rear, large LED tail lights with a more pronounced rear diffuser makes the rear bolder and more aggressive. Optionally, buyers can opt for a two-tone paint scheme through a black contrasting roof.

Inside, there’s a completely new dashboard with a mainly horizontal layout to emphasize its width. Considerable effort has been made to make the interior much more plush and driver focused than the model it replaces. It has more soft touch materials and contrast leather piping for the seats. There’s also a new 8-inch BlueLink infotainment system with Qi wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, rear view camera, and an all-new head-up display at the windshield.

Powering the Hyundai Veloster are two engines. There’s a naturally aspirated Atkinson Cycle 4-cylinder 2.0 liter as the base engine, which produces 147 hp and 179 Nm of torque. To those keeping check, this is the same engine found in the Hyundai Elantra. The other engine option is a 1.6 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that is carried over from the previous generation Veloster Turbo. It produces 201 hp and 264 Nm of torque. It has an overboost function, which boosts torque to 274 Nm for a few seconds. All engines can be mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual clutch automatic.

Underneath the sheetmetal, the Veloster arrives with new technical features. Gone is the car’s crude torsion beam rear suspension, and in its place is a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension for better ride and handling. All Velosters come standard with Torque Vectoring Control, which operates through the electronic stability control and wheel sensors to apply braking in the inner wheels when cornering to improve the car’s agility. Turbo models get a quicker steering with revised calibration to match the car’s higher performance. The turbo Veloster also includes a bigger 24 mm front stabilizer bar at the front MacPherson struts, and a bigger 19 mm at the rear multilink rear suspension. Like every single car nowadays, the Veloster can be opted with forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, high beam assist, and driver attention warning.

Veloster N

The Hyundai Veloster N, meanwhile, is the second high performance car (the first being the i30 N) to come out from Hyundai’s new N high performance division, and the first in the USA.

From the outside, it is easy to spot with its red highlights, more aggressive bodywork, large 18-inch and optional 19-inch alloy wheels, which are wrapped in grippy 225/40 Michelin Pilot SuperSport or 234/35 Pirelli P-Zero rubber, respectively.

Meanwhile, on the inside, the Veloster N is set apart from its humbler sibling with its exclusive sport seats, sports steering wheel, special shift knob, N-logo door sill plates, N-design instrument cluster, and blue accent theme reminding drivers that they’re in a potent Veloster N.

It has its eyes towards the Civic Type R, with its potent 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that generates 275 hp and 353 Nm of torque. It is exclusively mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, and can sprint from 0-100 kph in 6.1 seconds.