BOOSTED
Turbo gives the Veloster what it needs

By Roy Nakano We developed a liking to the Hyundai Veloster—that manically styled and oddly attractive car that’s a two-door coupe on one side and a four-door coupe on the other. It just needed a turbocharger. Now it’s got one. Meet the Hyundai Veloster Turbo. And it’s still a fuel sipper with an EPA-rated 35 highway miles per gallon.* Everything we like about the Veloster is carried over for the Veloster Turbo. That includes the full door in the rear passenger side of the car, but not on the driver’s side—making the Veloster Turbo appear as a four-door on one side and a two-door coupe on the other. Also carried over is the excellent fit and finish of the Veloster. While there are lots of soft touch materials used, it’s the hard plastics that pleasantly surprise as looking very smart. While this level of fit and finish is remarkable for the Veloster, it’s merely very good for the price of our Veloster Turbo, which stickers north of $27,000, as tested.

Alas, some of the things we don’t like about the Veloster have carried over, such as the numb-feeling steering and the rather bone-jarring ride—the former resulting in a lack of road feel, and the latter not helped by the employment of 18-inch wheels and ultra low profile 40-series tires. The Veloster Turbo should feel sportier than it does. Perhaps some more suspension and steering tuning can do the trick. As is, it has a bit to go to match its hot hatch competition from Germany and America. Notwithstanding its peculiarities, we said the Veloster offers a lot of car for money. At a base price of $21,950, the same can be said of the Veloster Turbo so long as you resist the temptation of loading up the car with too many options. Ours came with the Dimension Premium Audio with external amplifier and subwoofer, leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy pedals, 18-inch alloy wheels, proximity key entry with electronic push button start, and the Ultimate Package, which includes panoramic sunroof, backup warning sensors, navigation system with rearview camera.

To top it off, this sample came with the head-turning $1000 Limited Edition Matte Gray paint. It’s popular with Lamborghinis and other exotic cars. This is the first time we’ve seen it in a mass production car in this particular price point—and it brought the total price to $27,520, including inland freight and handling. While it’s not exactly the bargain of the base car, it’s about right for what you get. That is, a very stylish 35-miles per gallon (highway) 3+1-door hatchback, turbocharged and loaded to the gills. *POSTSCRIPT EPA NEWS RELEASE—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Hyundai will lower their fuel economy (MPG) estimates for the majority of their model year 2012 and 2013 vehicle models as the result of an EPA investigation of test data. Cars currently on dealer lots will be re-labeled by the auto company with new window stickers reflecting the corrected mileage estimates. The mileage on the Hyundai Veloster will be reduced from 40 to 37 mpg highway and 29 (auto)/28 (manual) to 28/27 mpg city. The Hyundai Veloster Turbo will be reduced from 34 (auto)/38 (manual) mpg highway to 31 (auto)/35 (manual) mpg and 25 (auto)/26 (manual) mpg to 24/25 mpg city. If you have any questions for EPA about your vehicle and this announcement, you can email your questions to [email protected]. For more information on Hyundai products, go to www.hyundaiusa.com

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Price: $21,950 (base, with manual transmission) $27,520 (as tested, with Dimension Premium Audio with eight speakers, external amplifier and subwoofer, leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy pedals, 18-inch alloy wheels, proximity key entry with electronic push button start, Ultimate Package, which includes panoramic sunroof, backup warning sensors, navigation system with rearview camera. EPA fuel economy rating: 24 mpg city / 35 mpg highway (manual) 24 mpg city / 31 mpg (automatic) Engine size and type: 1.6 liter GDI 16-valve DOHC four-in-line with variable valve timing Horsepower: 201 at 6000 rpm Torque: 195 pound-feet at 1750 rpm

Transmission type: 6-speed manual (6-speed dual-clutch automatic with sequential manual mode and paddle shifters optional) Drive configuration: Front-wheel drive Steering (type): Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering Suspension (front and rear): Front suspension: Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar Rear suspension: Torsion beam with stabilizer bar Wheels and tires: 18-inch alloy wheels with P215/40R18 tires Dimensions Length: 167.3 inches Width: 71.1 inches Height: 55.1 inches Curb weight: 2800 pounds