"Hyundai rouses a rabid riot with the 2013 Veloster Turbo"

[ghosthunter]

Hyundai rouses a rabid riot with the 2013 Veloster Turbo
Words by Niky Tamayo | Photos courtesy of Hyundai Motor America



Though Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) has yet to launch the Veloster locally, this three-door coupe has already been making waves in other parts of the globe for its bold looks and affordable price. While the striking styling has always been a draw, the puny 1.6-liter engine hasn't entirely lived up to the connotations of its rapid name...until now.

At the recently-concluded 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai has finally answered our prayers when they showed off the new 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Visually, the new pumped-up Veloster looks much more aggressive, with 18-inch alloys, a larger grill to feed it with more air, twin tailpipes, and LED tail-lamps. But aside from quicker steering response, a turbocharged engine, and bespoke transmission, other engine and mechanical changes are minimal....

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[niky]

Wonder how long before the gray market gets this one? HARI had better hurry to beat them to it!

[meikey]

that is one bad dude...

[ghosthunter]

Wonder how long before the gray market gets this one? HARI had better hurry to beat them to it!

Given the regular Veloster already costs so much (in the grey market)... how much would the turbo version sell for? With options like the Subaru Impreza and Lancer EX Ralliart, would it be a "viable" model?

[jhnkvn]

Since a Veloster costs much like a Hyundai Sonata. A turbo version would probably be in Subaru WRX territory. Hmm.... bilis, pila na

[niky]

Think of it this way.

Whatever the gray market sells the Veloster for, Hyundai sells the Genesis Coupe at a starting price of 1.4m. Thus, the turbo Veloster can't cost more than that.

I'm betting the standard Veloster would be a 1.1m car with an automatic and all the bells and whistles. The turbo could be 1.2m to 1.3m, but anything more and they wouldn't bother bringing it in.

[ghosthunter]

Think of it this way.

Whatever the gray market sells the Veloster for, Hyundai sells the Genesis Coupe at a starting price of 1.4m. Thus, the turbo Veloster can't cost more than that.

I'm betting the standard Veloster would be a 1.1m car with an automatic and all the bells and whistles. The turbo could be 1.2m to 1.3m, but anything more and they wouldn't bother bringing it in.

If I am right, the standard Hyundai Veloster (grey market) sells at the P1.5M level.

[yebo]

why would anyone pay 1.5M for something that UGLY! even a guy on drugs will find that nose painfully over-dressed and, well, just plain UGLY!

common guys, stop being gentlemen and say the truth. it's UGLY! sa tagalog, PANGET!

i've seen fish in munoz market much better looking than that!

[niky]

You'd be surprised.

The Veloster isn't classically pretty in the sense that a Jaguar E-Type or Datsun 240Z is pretty... but it's not exactly Quasimodo-esque, like the Pontiac Aztek or the Ssangyong Actyon (the latter of which I at least find interesting).

Instead, it's striking. While I don't like the cheeky foglight design, Hyundai's new corporate look is aggressive, striking and unusual... which makes it attractive to those who want to stand out. The Veloster's body is also quite unusual, but at least it's not like the MINI Clubman, which tries to stretch the Cooper shape into something it's not. The Veloster simply presents itself as the Veloster, and nothing else is quite like it.

I was also quite hesitant about the MINI Countryman, because that looks weird in pictures, but in person, the looks also work, and it's a pretty unique and attractive car (just don't go for the overwrought S variant).

This is an unusual time in the automotive industry. We're changing the shape and future of cars. Look at cars like the Cube, the Jazz and the Soul. Very different from what you might have seen decades ago. Now, with cars like the Countryman, the Veloster and ASX, the look of cars is changing further still.

While 1.5m is a questionable value for the base 1.6... even if it has a DCT, if they bring it in at a price similar to TOTL 2.0 sedans, it should sell. I've seen a few on the road, and they certainly are eye-catching.

(So sue me... I like weird cars. )