Topic: Test Drive: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

[Autos_Editor]

'The Veloster throws down the gauntlet'when it comes to standard equipment,' says Paul Williams.

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[JohnM]

I just don't get the attraction of 45 section tires - the smooth spaces between the cracks in the pavement aren't long enough to make it worthwhile.

With 138hp and 2650 pounds of weight, the Veloster should be decently quick with the 6 speed.  0 to 100km in under 8.5 seconds I'd guess.  I understand Chris's annoyance at having to shift often in his all-urban test but once out of the city, we're supposed to be a sport driving crowd who actually enjoy shifting.

Sounds like amazing value and a really refined small package.  Great mileage - approaching Echo-like numbers.

Just goes to show you what solid engineering, marketing guts and a way undervalued currency will do for you.

Cheers,
John M.

[flowave]

I saw this in person a week ago in a parking lot and I was surprised to find that it looked better than in the pictures. (I took the following picture)
Honestly, It looked so good that i was checking it out as if it was an exotic car.
The presence of the car is amazing.
It's a great car for the price.
Car market is going crazier with a lot of R & D and i think some car companies will go bankrupt because some will get beaten by the competition.
And probably will be bought by some Chinese or Indian companies.

Something like what's already happening in LCD TV industries.....

Panasonic gets $5.384 billion in fiscal 2011 deficit:
http://www.newso.org/ITNews/Trade/Panasonic-gets-5384-billion-in-fiscal-2011-deficit/02199cac-9f27-4604-bedd-f5b41f246a51
http://www.newso.org/ITNews/Trade/Panasonic-SONY-for-losses-to-abandon-LCD-TV-panel-project/df127b30-ec1c-466f-b160-5e6ef3df3572
http://www.newso.org/ITNews/Trade/Panasonic-closing-several-panel-factory-Japanese-TV-global-retreat/e627683c-348b-4d96-b740-1d38067f2ce2

[JohnnyMac]

Winning it's AJAC award this year (Sports Car under $50,000) is a huge boost to credibility.  I know the Hyundai dealer here in Fredericton can't keep them on the lot.  I think they have to ask customers if they can keep the car they ordered on the lot a couple of extra days just so that other customers can look and sit in it.  Personally I just don't think it has enough performance for me and once the Mazda 3 diesel comes out I'll be looking at that for my fuel efficient sporty car.  I think with how well it's doing this year if they can add a turbo to the equation next year and get somewhere in the 180-200 Hp performance then they probably have a good chance of winning the same AJAC award next year.

Definitely a winner for Hyundai and I think the only problem will be keeping enough on the lot to sell to customers like me who will only buy something they can test drive.

[flowave]

Incase you didn't know that turbo is coming...

Hyundai Veloster Turbo Rated at 204-HP, 195 Lb-Ft:


http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/10/hyundai-veloster-turbo-rated-at-204-hp-195-lb-ft.html
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/21/hyundai-veloster-turbo-to-get-204-horsepower/

[2latecrew]

I just don't get the attraction of 45 section tires - the smooth spaces between the cracks in the pavement aren't long enough to make it worthwhile.

With 138hp and 2650 pounds of weight, the Veloster should be decently quick with the 6 speed.  0 to 100km in under 8.5 seconds I'd guess. 

I understand that those big 18s look cool on this car ..they really do but its not just the 45 series tires. Those 18s weight a LOT. The tires are heavier than 16 or 17s. There is a lot of unsprung mass at each corner and that little 138 HP engine has a lot to turn.

I have to admit having seen them in person that the car is a looker. So many interesting details that you can't help but walk around it and check them all out.

[CanuckS2K]

This car is seriously a LOT of bang for your buck.......and a real looker too!  I can only imagine that Hyundai is going to sell like a gazillion of these things.  The turbo is what I'd be waiting for.

[Jaeger]

This car is seriously a LOT of bang for your buck.......and a real looker too!  I can only imagine that Hyundai is going to sell like a gazillion of these things.  The turbo is what I'd be waiting for.

What he said.  From what my dealer told me, the only sales problem is supply. As for frequent shifting, the Fit is like that as well - closely spaced gears is what makes it easy to keep the engine in its sweet spot.  It also makes for high revs at highway speeds.

Jaeger

[wing]

Ouch, so much for my blog this week LOL

[D70]

It looks great in red

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/6164776672/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/6164776524/

[2latecrew]

This car is seriously a LOT of bang for your buck.......and a real looker too!  I can only imagine that Hyundai is going to sell like a gazillion of these things.  The turbo is what I'd be waiting for.

What he said.  From what my dealer told me, the only sales problem is supply. As for frequent shifting, the Fit is like that as well - closely spaced gears is what makes it easy to keep the engine in its sweet spot.  It also makes for high revs at highway speeds.

Jaeger

This I don't understand. If you have 6 gears (and cars got along with 5 for a long time) why can't you have 5 close ones and then a longer 6th for lower highway speeds. I complained about this in the GTI and now my 6 speed Sentra the drop from 5- 6 is only a few hundred RPM.  I'm not talking a Vette like 6th that drops RPMs to 1500. But would it hurt anything to drop 120kph revs down below 3000 on these cars? Even at 3000 there isn't any real passing power so people WILL downshift so why not lengthen that 6th gear? What's the downside?

[Jaeger]

This car is seriously a LOT of bang for your buck.......and a real looker too!  I can only imagine that Hyundai is going to sell like a gazillion of these things.  The turbo is what I'd be waiting for.

What he said.  From what my dealer told me, the only sales problem is supply. As for frequent shifting, the Fit is like that as well - closely spaced gears is what makes it easy to keep the engine in its sweet spot.  It also makes for high revs at highway speeds.

Jaeger

This I don't understand. If you have 6 gears (and cars got along with 5 for a long time) why can't you have 5 close ones and then a longer 6th for lower highway speeds. I complained about this in the GTI and now my 6 speed Sentra the drop from 5- 6 is only a few hundred RPM.  I'm not talking a Vette like 6th that drops RPMs to 1500. But would it hurt anything to drop 120kph revs down below 3000 on these cars? Even at 3000 there isn't any real passing power so people WILL downshift so why not lengthen that 6th gear? What's the downside?

I quite agree.

Jaeger

[nlm]

This I don't understand. If you have 6 gears (and cars got along with 5 for a long time) why can't you have 5 close ones and then a longer 6th for lower highway speeds. I complained about this in the GTI and now my 6 speed Sentra the drop from 5- 6 is only a few hundred RPM.  I'm not talking a Vette like 6th that drops RPMs to 1500. But would it hurt anything to drop 120kph revs down below 3000 on these cars? Even at 3000 there isn't any real passing power so people WILL downshift so why not lengthen that 6th gear? What's the downside?

I quite agree.

Jaeger

Ditto.

[nlm]

I would've preferred a door behind the driver too for the extra versatilitly. The design masks the rear door quite good anyways.

[Snowman]

This car is seriously a LOT of bang for your buck.......and a real looker too!  I can only imagine that Hyundai is going to sell like a gazillion of these things.  The turbo is what I'd be waiting for.

What he said.  From what my dealer told me, the only sales problem is supply. As for frequent shifting, the Fit is like that as well - closely spaced gears is what makes it easy to keep the engine in its sweet spot.  It also makes for high revs at highway speeds.

Jaeger

This I don't understand. If you have 6 gears (and cars got along with 5 for a long time) why can't you have 5 close ones and then a longer 6th for lower highway speeds. I complained about this in the GTI and now my 6 speed Sentra the drop from 5- 6 is only a few hundred RPM.  I'm not talking a Vette like 6th that drops RPMs to 1500. But would it hurt anything to drop 120kph revs down below 3000 on these cars? Even at 3000 there isn't any real passing power so people WILL downshift so why not lengthen that 6th gear? What's the downside?

I find that I skip gears at times when shifting. Under heavy acceleration in the STi I shift 1-2-3-6 when I reach cruising speed and at times I go from 6-4 down shifting. 6th gear should be renamed Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency Gear

[Mike]

Turbo Veloster for 2013 has just been made official...expect to see it in Detroit this January (Toronto in Feb I hope)

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/01/hyundai-confirms-veloster-turbo-upgraded-genesis-coupe-headed-f/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fautoblog+%28Autoblog%29

[opg210]

From what I've read about most Hyundais and from the ones I've driven, they seem like incredible value machines with one thing missing - this company really should hire a few Lotus chassis tuners and steering experts! Not that the handling is horrible, but they are so close to building truly great machines, not just great value.

This thing could be a modern day CRX.

[whaddaiknow]

I would've preferred a door behind the driver too for the extra versatilitly. The design masks the rear door quite good anyways.

I think it was a smart move on Hyundai's part. As a driver, you approach your 'coupe' every time you are about to get in. But if you need to take a passenger in the back seat, they get inside your '4-door' hatch from the correct (curb) side of the road. Win-win.

[whaddaiknow]

Turbo Veloster for 2013 has just been made official...expect to see it in Detroit this January (Toronto in Feb I hope)

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/01/hyundai-confirms-veloster-turbo-upgraded-genesis-coupe-headed-f/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fautoblog+%28Autoblog%29

Great news for the auto industry and car enthusiasts indeed. The only remaining hope is that the turbo won't give the price too much 'boost'.

[5 Wheel Drive]

Ouch, so much for my blog this week LOL

Oops!  Paul beat you to the punch did he?  That's ok, your Day by Day is a better read anyway...