Bold innovations, extra horsepower, top of the line equipment and better fuel economy are the terms Mike O'Brien, VP Product and Corporate Planning at Hyundai coins talking about the new turbocharged Veloster, which is starting to make a name for itself.


The bar is raised for 2013, the goal being to steal some of the hot hatch market away from the likes of the Volkswagen GTI, MINI Cooper S and 2013 Scion FR-S.

The biggest novelty is under the hood: a turbo.

The new powerplant boosts the base Veloster’s 138 hp up to 201 hp at 6,000 rpm and reaches a peak torque of 195 lb-ft between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. Transmission choices include a standard 6-speed manual transmission and an optional 6-speed automatic with manual mode.

The new powerplant boosts the base Veloster’s 138 hp up to 201 hp at 6,000 rpm and reaches a peak torque of 195 lb-ft between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. (Photo: Hyundai)

According to Hyundai themselves, the Veloster Turbo should be capable of 8.7L/100km in the city and 6.2L/100km on the highway.

The silhouette still has that distinctive asymmetrical look, with two doors on the passenger side, but only one on the driver's side. The Turbo also features a massive front grille reminiscent of the Sonata Hybrid and the 2013 Genesis Coupe, and the headlights are now surrounded by LED driving lights.

Standard, the turbocharged Veloster will come with 18-inch wheels, 215/40VR18 tires and larger front brake discs compared to the base model. Plus, it will be Hyundai's first car available with a matte paint job.

Inside, the centre console features a 7” touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and iPod integration. In terms of boot capacity, the Veloster easily outshines the Cooper S, with 439L of room to offer against the 160 of the MINI.

Both front seats are heated, but the driver side also features extra lumbar support. Meanwhile, in the back, the second row seatback is divided 60/40 and every seat has its headrest.

Inside, the centre console features a 7” touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and iPod integration. (Photo: Hyundai)

Optional panoramic sunroof, navigation system and 115V plug are also available.

Hyundai has not announced a price yet for the 2013 Veloster Turbo, but when their pocket rocket hits the showrooms this summer, it should cost around $26,000.