Hyundai Motor has decided to launch an updated version of its famous Veloster model. For now, the new model shall only be launched in the company’s home market for the time being. With the launch of a new model, the auto maker will be targeting the young buyers. The company launched the official sales campaign of “The New and Better Veloster” on January 16 in South Korea.
It would be incorrect to call this a full-blown facelift since cosmetic modifications are mostly limited to minor trims and colors changes, but a change is a change. The second most interesting feature of this car would be its new engine sound equalizer facility that allows the driver to adjust the level of engine sound. Using the world’s first engine sound adjustment feature, now the drivers can create their own engine sound categories. The best feature, though, is the dual-clutch transmission (seven-speed) that will replace the existing six-speed unit in the Turbo variant of the model. This feature will help in an efficient funneling of the 1.6-liter turbo-four’s power and torque.
On a very basic level, Hyundai has added two-tone color options for the seats, door and center console trims, and seat belts. Added to this list is a new sports steering wheel with improved grip, and Blue Link telematic system – the company’s latest work. Coming to its technical specifications, the new Veloster also features a 1.6-liter turbo gasoline cylinder (T-GDi) delivering 204 bhp (in Europe this engine offers 186 hp). The customers will also experience the “Flex Steer system” that allows the driver to choose between different steering modes.
To get things clearer, let us compare three Veloster models – Veloster/Re:Flex, Veloster Turbo R-Spec and Veloster Turbo. While the all three have many similarities, the main differences are the price tags, EPA Mileage Estimates/Fuel Capacity, compression ratio of the engine, final drive ratio and exterior dimensions. According to the Hyundai USA portal, the combined mileage for Veloster Re:Flex is higher than the other two variants. On the other hand, the same model lags behind the other two in terms of horsepower and torque by engine.
Let us move on to some price-related figures. The price tag is 19.95 million won (US $18,550) for the Unique version, 20.95 million won (US $19,480) for the PYL variant, and 21.55 million won (US $20,040) for the PYL DCT variant. As mentioned in the beginning, the new model has been released only for the Korean market. Whether the product would be launched in other countries or not; this yet remains to be seen. But, one thing is for sure; this is some classic gift by Hyundai to its Korean customers.
